Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is reportedly considering a comeback at the age of 46, and it’s in the Italian Serie C.
The 2002 World Cup winner is apparently looking to reignite his illustrious career in the upcoming season with third-tier club FC Ravenna. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the deal is expected to be officially announced on June 23rd on the sidelines of the World Cup in Miami.
‘New colors, same smile. I can’t wait to dance with the ball again and write a new chapter together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family,’ Ronaldinho is quoted as saying. He added that football has always been ‘a source of joy for me, and it’s exactly this spirit I want to bring to Ravenna.’
Ronaldinho’s Comeback: A Single Appearance Perhaps?
Ravenna’s president, Ignazio Cipriani, who is said to have maintained a friendship with Ronaldinho for years, spoke of ‘something extraordinary for our club. He was my idol, and his influence on football extends far beyond his on-field performances.’
Ronaldinho, currently serving as an ambassador at the World Cup, played his last professional match in September 2015 for Fluminense. He is expected to return to the pitch in July at the start of pre-season training for FC Ravenna, a team that narrowly missed promotion last season. The exact number of appearances he will make remains uncertain, with some Italian media outlets suggesting it might only be a single outing.
Ronaldinho: Ballon d’Or Winner and Champions League Champion
The 97-capped international (with 33 goals) previously played for clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona (alongside a young Lionel Messi), and AC Milan. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and triumphed in the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006.
In 2020, he and his brother spent nearly half a year in prison in Paraguay after the duo entered the country with forged passports.