Ronaldinho to Play Again at 46: Debut for Ravenna Set for November 15

Nearly a decade after retiring from professional football, 46-year-old Brazilian legend Ronaldinho Gaucho is returning to competitive football. His official debut in the shirt of Italian third-tier Serie C club Ravenna is set for November 15.

The wizard of dribbling will step onto the pitch in a derby match against arch-rivals Forli FC. After surprising football fans by signing for the club last June, the 2002 World Cup winner himself announced the final date for his return on Friday.

He last played a competitive professional match in 2015, for Fluminense in his home country — meaning his magical feet will be seen on a professional pitch again after almost 11 years.

Ravenna expressed its delight in an official statement about Ronaldinho's return. The club said the historic occasion would turn the eyes of the whole world towards their Stadio Bruno Benetti, which holds 12,000 spectators. What once seemed impossible to the football world, the club confirmed, is now becoming reality.

The club from the small town in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region is not usually known internationally, but the Brazilian star's arrival has overnight brought it enormous popularity and publicity worldwide.

Businessman Ignazio Cipriani, who took ownership of Ravenna in 2024, has set a target of taking the club to the top-tier Serie A. He is hopeful that the arrival of his childhood inspiration Ronaldinho will greatly increase the team's profile and acceptance.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Ronaldinho said the opportunity arose from his long-standing family friendship and personal rapport with the Cipriani family. As both sides' thinking about the club's overall progress largely aligned, he was delighted to begin this new journey together.

This is not, however, Ronaldinho's first experience of Italian football. During one of the most important spells of his glittering career, he dazzled for the traditional club AC Milan from 2008 to 2011.

In European football he also tasted title success with top powers such as Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

In international football, Ronaldinho won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, and in 2005 he earned football's highest individual honour, the Ballon d'Or.

All eyes are now on the November 15 derby — the football world waits to see how much of the old magic the legend can show after taking the field at 46.