Ronaldinho, 46, returns to football chasing his 300th career goal

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho, now 46, has announced his return to the pitch after signing with Italian third-tier club Ravenna. The former Paris St-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker, who retired from playing in 2015, was unveiled at an event called "Ronaldinho Day" held on a city beach, which drew thousands of fans despite rainy weather.

Ronaldinho said he was happy to be back in Italy and eager to help his new teammates win matches. He admitted it was uncertain whether he would actually appear in official games, saying that decision rests with the coach, but insisted he feels in good physical shape. He expressed hope of scoring his 300th career goal, calling it a beautiful potential milestone.

Club shareholder role

Ronaldinho will also become a shareholder in Ravenna. The club has been owned since 2024 by Italian-American businessman Ignazio Cipriani, who first revealed the possibility of Ronaldinho's comeback in June while attending the World Cup in Miami. Cipriani said the move has a romantic purpose — an attempt for Ronaldinho to score one last goal — and denied it was a marketing stunt.

Ronaldinho will not feature in Ravenna's Serie C season opener against Reggiana on Monday. The club finished third in its group in the third tier last season and is aiming to return to Serie B, a division it has not played in since 2008.

During his playing career, Ronaldinho won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, scoring the winning goal in the quarter-final against England, and was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He played his last official match in September 2015 for Brazilian club Fluminense.