Ronaldinho, 46, Returns to Play in Italy’s Third Tier to Chase Goal No. 300

Ronaldinho, 46, is expected to play for Ravenna, an Italian Serie C club, in a match against Forli on the evening of Nov. 15, according to TPO. The Brazilian former Ballon d'Or winner has not played an official match for 11 years, and he is chasing one goal that would take him to 300 for his career.

Whether he plays at all, and for how long, is still in the coach's hands. Coach Andrea Mandorlini said Ronaldinho will be one of three attacking players, though his minutes will depend on how the game goes.

How a retired star ended up in the third division

Ravenna announced in June that the former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan forward would join them for the season, DW reported. Ronaldinho last played in September 2015 for Fluminense and announced his retirement in 2018. He was presented to the public on a rainy Thursday in northeastern Italy, with what DW described as a sense of excitement in the city.

At the unveiling he said he was there to be with friends and wanted to live the experience with the whole city. Asked whether fans would see him play, he told reporters only the coach knows. “I'm here to help my teammates win,” he said.

The 300-goal target and the unusual contract

TPO, citing ESPN, reported that Ronaldinho ended his career with 299 goals and wants one more for Ravenna. DW noted that how that total was reached is slightly unclear, since many widely used resources list far fewer goals. He did win the Ballon d'Or in 2005, the 2002 World Cup and top-flight titles in Spain and Italy.

The deal is not a standard playing contract. According to CBS Sports, as relayed by TPO, it is a player-investor agreement: he can play in selected matches, owns shares in the club and helps promote it internationally. Ravenna's owner, Ignazio Cipriani, who has run the club since 2024, called the goal “romantic” and rejected the idea that the signing is a marketing stunt. DW said suspicion of a publicity move remains, and that Ronaldinho did not dispel it.

Cipriani is a nephew of Arrigo Cipriani, founder of Harry's Bar in Venice, and the family's Cipriani Group runs restaurants, clubs and hotels in cities around the world, TPO reported. The club has also brought in people with top-level football experience, including former AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida. Cipriani told reporters that Ronaldinho also wants to develop a brand called R10, and Ravenna will be the first team to carry it on its kits.

Why it matters for Ravenna and for fans

The signing has already changed the mood around a club from a city of about 160,000 people. DW reported that Ravenna has sold 2,700 season tickets, largely because of Ronaldinho's arrival. TPO said Bruno Benelli Stadium, which holds around 12,000, had temporary stands added for the match.

Cipriani has said openly that he wants to take Ravenna to Serie A and attract more young supporters. For Ronaldinho, TPO described the game as possibly his last chance at a 300th professional goal.

Even if he steps onto the field, he will not be the oldest player around. Japan's Kazuyoshi Miura, 59, holds that title and scored two penalties in the Emperor's Cup this week, DW said. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still playing at 39 and 41, respectively.

Around Prague, based on reporting by DW.com, Vietnam.vn

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