Ronaldinho Gaúcho's debut set for 15 November derby
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho will make his competitive debut for Serie C Italiano side Ravenna on 15 November 2026, when the club hosts regional rivals Forlì at Stadio Bruno Benelli. The date was confirmed on Friday 25 by Ravenna mayor Alessandro Barattoni, and the club has promised a world‑wide event around the fixture.
Debut confirmed for 15 November
The derby is scheduled for Sunday at 17.30 and forms part of Serie C group B. Ravenna president Ignazio Cipriani said the match will attract global attention and described it as one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures. "Ronaldinho will play at Benelli, opening a new chapter in a story that continues to surprise," he added.
Club prepares high‑profile derby
"The magic never left; now it’s time to bring him back onto the pitch," Cipriani declared in a club statement. He continued, "They told us it was impossible. We believed in it from day one and, thanks to the passion and work of our whole team, we turned an idea that seemed impossible into an occasion the entire world now awaits." Ticket details will be released through Ravenna’s official channels.
Ronaldinho makes sensational comeback at Serie C club Ravenna
Ronaldinho’s recent appearances and ambitions
The 46‑year‑old Brazilian from Brasil has been active off‑season, featuring in the "Jogo dos Galácticos" at the Arena da Baixada in Para earlier this month and playing a Legends match in Trnava, Slovakia, in September. He last appeared in a competitive match over 10 years ago with Fluminense in 2015. Ronaldinho will wear the number 10 shirt, customised with the R10 logo, and has set a personal target of 300 official goals for Ravenna.
Signing and presentation details
The club confirmed his signing at an event in Miami in June 2026, and on 20 August organised a seaside presentation at Marina di Ravenna with food stalls, music and a DJ set. Vice‑president Ariedo Braida, who worked with Ronaldinho at Milan, was instrumental in finalising the deal. The move is being hailed as a commercial boost for the club and for Italia’s third‑division football.
Ronaldinho returns to Serie C with Ravenna for November derby
Training and minutes still unknown
Although Ronaldinho has not yet trained with the squad, his brother and agent Roberto De Assis was spotted at the stadium at the end of September. The club has not disclosed how many minutes he will play in the derby, but the anticipation across the football world suggests his involvement will be closely watched.