46-year-old Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has announced his return to football, officially joining Italian Serie C side Ravenna FC. The Brazilian "football sorcerer" arrived in Italy on Aug. 20 local time to attend an official press conference — marking more than 10 years since he last played professionally for Fluminense in Brazil in 2015.
According to foreign media reports, Ronaldinho's comeback is closely tied to a business partnership with the club's American owner and close friend, Ignazio Cipriani, and he has also become a minority shareholder of the club. However, this return to the pitch is more of a "farewell performance" — Ravenna will register him as a player, but he will not be a regular starter, nor will he take part in pre-season training or travel for away matches. The club plans to have him make a brief substitute appearance in a specific home league match, as a performance to thank the fans.
At the press conference, Ronaldinho revealed that one of his main motivations for the comeback is to score a goal for Ravenna, which would mark the 300th goal of his professional career. The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, who played for European giants such as Barcelona and AC Milan, captivated the world with his dazzling footwork and infectious smile. Now, at 46, his brief return on the Serie C stage may have limited competitive impact, but it has already sparked widespread excitement among fans around the world, eager to see the Brazilian magician in action once more.
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