Ronaldinho returns to the pitch at age 46 to score his 300th goal

More than a decade after his departure from official matches, Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is preparing to open a new chapter in his career by returning to the pitch at the age of 46, wearing the jersey of Italian club Ravenna, with an exceptional goal in mind: scoring his 300th career goal.

The former Barcelona and Milan star appeared during his official presentation on one of the beaches of Ravenna, a city in northeastern Italy, wearing his new club’s jersey bearing his name and his famous number “10.”

Ronaldinho, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2005, expressed his happiness at returning to Italy, confirming his readiness to help his teammates, without specifying the date of his debut, noting that the decision rests with the coach.

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The Brazilian star said, “I am in good shape and feel well,” adding that scoring his 300th goal would give his comeback a more distinctive character.

Ronaldinho is scheduled to participate in an open training session for fans on Friday, but he will not feature in Ravenna’s match against Reggiana to open the season in Italy’s third division.

His return comes more than 10 years after his last official match, which he played for Brazilian club Fluminense in September 2015.

Ravenna’s owner, Ignazio Cipriani, confirmed that Ronaldinho’s return is not merely for exhibition or marketing purposes, clarifying that the player aims to score one final goal in his career and will also become part of the club’s ownership.

Ronaldinho enjoyed a distinguished career with several top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Milan. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and earned 97 international caps, scoring 33 goals.