{"id":2000123243,"date":"2026-08-20T18:17:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000123243"},"modified":"2026-08-20T18:18:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:18:00","slug":"ronaldinho-46-comes-out-of-retirement-to-chase-one-final-goal-with-ravenna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/ronaldinho-46-comes-out-of-retirement-to-chase-one-final-goal-with-ravenna\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronaldinho, 46, comes out of retirement to chase one final goal with Ravenna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former Ballon d\u2019Or winner arrived in Italy on Thursday ahead of his official presentation, which is expected to be the centrepiece of a lavish \u201cRonaldinho Day\u201d celebration on the Adriatic coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thousands of supporters are expected to attend the beach event, where Ravenna will unveil its squad ahead of the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ronaldinho\u2019s return comes more than 11 years after his last competitive appearance for Fluminense in 2015. His decision to join Ravenna was announced in June as part of a wider agreement involving the club\u2019s ownership group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ravenna president Ignazio Cipriani, a member of the family behind the famous Cipriani restaurant and hospitality business, has stressed that Ronaldinho\u2019s involvement goes beyond publicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not window dressing or a marketing stunt,\u201d Cipriani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 Ronaldinho has arrived in Italy ahead of signing for Ravenna! \ud83e\udd2f<br><br>The Brazilian legend will be officially unveiled tonight and has one final ambition in mind: to score the last professional goal of his career in a Ravenna shirt.<br><br>(Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BFMTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BFMTV<\/a>) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/69ef8mg6bh\">pic.twitter.com\/69ef8mg6bh<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DeadlineDayLive\/status\/2090460838997921823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ronaldinho is set to become a shareholder in the club and, remarkably, is also expected to take part in at least one official match during the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cipriani has revealed the Brazilian has a particularly romantic ambition for his comeback: to score one final goal before bringing the curtain down on his playing career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHis goal is to score his final goal in a Ravenna shirt,\u201d Cipriani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It remains unclear exactly when Ronaldinho will take to the pitch. He has not been part of Ravenna coach Andrea Mandorlini\u2019s pre-season preparations, meaning he is unlikely to feature in the club\u2019s opening Serie C fixture against Reggiana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cipriani previously suggested Ronaldinho could play in a home league match, with his involvement dependent on his fitness and other circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1240\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/3062.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000123245\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Brazilian enjoyed a glittering career that also included spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Atletico Mineiro and Mexican club Queretaro.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comeback represents a remarkable second chapter in Italy for Ronaldinho, who spent two and a half seasons with AC Milan after joining the Rossoneri in 2008. He later moved to Flamengo in January 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Brazilian enjoyed a glittering career that also included spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Atletico Mineiro and Mexican club Queretaro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At international level, Ronaldinho earned 97 caps for Brazil and was part of the team that won the 2002 World Cup. Three years later, he claimed the Ballon d\u2019Or after a sensational spell at Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, more than a decade after his final competitive appearance, one of football\u2019s most celebrated entertainers is preparing to lace up his boots again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Ravenna, the hope is that Ronaldinho can provide one last moment of magic, and perhaps score the final goal of a career that has already delivered countless unforgettable ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/Ronaldinho-768x432-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000123244\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former soccer star Ronaldinho acknowledges the media as he arrives at the airport ahead of the Ravenna Serie C 2026 soccer team presentation, joining the club as a technical coach and playing in one match in Ravenna, Italy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brazil legend Ronaldinho is set to make a shocking return to professional football at the age of 46 after signing for Italian third-tier club Ravenna.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000123244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[151],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000123243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-editors-choice","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":2000122456,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.58.47-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.58.47 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":2000122456,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.58.47-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.58.47 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":131}],"featured_image":{"id":2000123244,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/Ronaldinho-768x432-1.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Former soccer star Ronaldinho acknowledges the media as he arrives at the airport ahead the Ravenna Serie C, 2026 soccer team presentation, joining the club as a technical coach and playing in one match in Ravenna, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. 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