Ronaldinho confirms comeback date at 46 for Serie C derby
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho is stepping out of a decade-long professional retirement to make a extraordinary single-match return for Italian Serie C club Ravenna in their upcoming derby against Forlì.
In a move that has stunned the global football community, former World Cup winner and 2005 Ballon d’Or recipient Ronaldinho is coming out of retirement for a high-profile appearance in Italy’s third division.
The 46-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan icon has officially locked in November 15 for his competitive debut with Ravenna FC.
He is set to feature in a heated regional derby against rivals Forlì at the Stadio Bruno Benelli.
The fixture will mark Ronaldinho’s first official match appearance in 11 years, having last played competitively for Brazilian side Fluminense in 2015 before stepping away from professional football.
Although the playmaker initially signed with Ravenna back in June and made promotional appearances at a seaside fan reception in August, questions remained over whether he would actually step onto the pitch for an official fixture.
Ravenna currently sits second in their geographically split Serie C group.
Driven by club president Ignazio Cipriani’s ambitious vision, the side views the legend’s appearance not just as a competitive boost, but as an extraordinary moment for lower-league Italian football.
While it remains unconfirmed how many minutes the veteran can physically endure, excitement has reached a fever pitch across the region ahead of derby day.
