Ravenna set Friday debut for 46‑year‑old Ronaldinho in Serie C clash

Brazilian icon Ronaldinho, now 46, is set to step back onto a professional pitch this Friday as he joins Ravenna Football Club for their Serie C clash with Forlì. The club confirmed the date for his first appearance, marking his return after an 11‑year retirement.

Match details

Ravenna officially confirmed that Ronaldinho will take the field against Forlì in the 14th round of Serie C. The encounter, a regional classic of Emilia‑Romagna, will be staged at the Bruno Benelli Stadium in Ravenna.

The Italian side currently sit second in Group B of the third division, having amassed 20 points. Their position keeps them in the hunt for promotion to Serie B. The club’s statement highlighted the significance of the debut for their campaign.

Ronaldinho's comeback

After landing in Italy earlier this week, the former Brazil star expressed eagerness to return after 11 years out of the professional game. He said, “Mal posso esperar para voltar a dançar com a bola e escrever uma nova história junto com Ignazio e toda a família Cipriani.” The nickname R10 was used throughout the club’s communications.

Ronaldinho’s last professional appearance came on 26 September 2015, when he featured for Fluminense against Goiás in the Brazilian Championship. That match marked the end of a distinguished career before his long hiatus.

Ravenna Football Club shared a post on its social channels declaring “O retorno é real”, accompanied by the caption ‘Legenda: Ronaldinho vai voltar a jogar futebol aos 46 anos’. The message underscored the historic nature of the event for both player and club.

The upcoming Friday fixture will see the 46‑year‑old legend line up for Ravenna, fulfilling his promise to bring joy back to the pitch. Fans will watch to see whether he can translate his past brilliance into the Serie C arena.