Ronaldinho returns to the field at the age of 46 from the Italian third division

Brazilian star Ronaldinho will return from retirement at the age of forty-six, in order to join the Ravenna team participating in the Italian third division football league, according to what Agence France-Presse learned from an informed source, confirming what was reported by the newspaper “Gazzetta dello Sport”.

The Italian sports newspaper indicated in its issue issued on Saturday that Ronaldinho, who is currently in the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup, will be officially presented as a Ravenna player during an event in Miami on June 23.

According to statements reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner said that he was “excited to return to dancing with the ball and writing a new story with Ignazio Cipriani (the Italian-American owner of Ravenna) and his entire family.”

The former player for Paris Saint-Germain (2001-2003), Barcelona (2003-2008) and Milan (2008-2011) added, “Football has always been a source of happiness for me, and I want to transfer the same spirit to Ravenna.”

Ronaldinho, the world champion with Brazil in 2002 and the owner of 97 international matches during which he scored 33 goals, played his last official match in September 2015 for the Brazilian club Fluminense.

But Ravenna’s vice president, Ariedo Braida, on Saturday dampened the enthusiasm of those who had hoped to see Ronaldinho play the entire third-division season, hinting that this deal had a primarily marketing nature.

He said in a statement to the Canadian digital newspaper La Presse, “He is a magical player, and he will get a license to play. It is a big deal for us.” Will he play at the age of 46? “It depends (on his ability), but let’s say he gets his licence.”

He added in statements reported by the Italian ANSA agency, “Will he play?” We’ll see, it’s not unlikely. A hero like him is outside the classification and has no age.”

Ravenna finished last season in third place in the second group of the third division, and was eliminated in the playoffs by Salernitana, which prevented it from returning to the second division, which it had missed since 2008.