Skip to content More than nine years after walking off a professional pitch, a remarkable Ronaldinho return will see the 46-year-old former world player of the year start in Italy’s Serie C on Sunday. The Brazilian wizard has not played competitive club football since leaving Fluminense in September 2015. Yet this weekend he will lead the line for Ravenna against local rivals Forli.
This is far from an exhibition tour or an off-season friendly. Ravenna sit second in the Serie C table after 13 matches, locked in a fierce fight for promotion. Handing a starting berth to a veteran who arrived in the country just two days before kickoff changes the entire complexion of their campaign.
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Supporters across Italy are scrambling for tickets to witness an icon who once dazzled at Barcelona and AC Milan. Can an attacker who retired a decade ago really produce magic in a grinding third-tier derby? You might wonder how a promotion-chasing team can take that kind of gamble.
Why the Ronaldinho return is happening now
The move actually started off the pitch back in August. The former Ballon d’Or winner invested directly in Ravenna, taking an ownership stake in the Italian outfit. But he quickly told directors that business was not his only motive.
Ronaldinho revealed a personal target that had nagged at him for years. He currently sits on 299 career goals and wants one final strike to hit 300 before he hangs up his boots for good. Club owner Ignazio Cipriani backed the ambition immediately.
His involvement is not a token gesture or a marketing stunt to get people talking about us.
Cipriani described the quest as a romantic football dream rather than a corporate ploy. Still, the timing could not be more demanding for the squad. Ravenna need three points to maintain their promotion push, while Forli would love nothing more than spoiling the party.
Mandorlini confirms forward role and minutes plan
Ravenna manager Andrea Mandorlini removed all suspense during his Friday press conference. While some observers expected a brief cameo off the bench, Mandorlini confirmed his superstar will run out from the opening whistle. He will feature alongside two other attackers in Ravenna’s standard tactical setup.
Mandorlini made it clear that the Brazilian legend will not just spectate from the sidelines. The manager stated that Ronaldinho will start because the team plays with three forwards and desperately needs a positive result. How many minutes the veteran can sustain remains an open question that player and coach will settle together during the contest.
Physical sharpness is the obvious question mark hanging over the fixture. The playmaker touched down on Italian soil on Friday afternoon. That schedule left him with just a single full training session alongside his new team-mates before stepping into competitive action.
Chasing goal number 300 in the Ronaldinho return
The entire Ravenna squad appears determined to help their famous team-mate cross the milestone. Ravenna forward Simone Rabbi confirmed that regular penalty duties will transfer directly to the Brazilian newcomer on Sunday. If the referee points to the spot, Ronaldinho steps up.
That agreement gives the veteran a golden path toward his target. A spot-kick would crown a career that peaked with World Cup glory and multiple league titles across Europe. Yet converting under pressure in Italian football is never straightforward, even for a maestro.
The mood inside the dressing room remains upbeat ahead of the derby. Players know the eyes of world football are on Ravenna Serie C action this weekend. Even so, they have to balance the celebration of a global legend with the practical need to secure three vital league points.
How Ravenna prepared Stadio Bruno Benelli for Forli
Local enthusiasm has pushed the club’s infrastructure to its limits. Ravenna officials erected a temporary stand at Stadio Bruno Benelli to handle the massive surge in ticket demand. Fans want to catch what could be the final competitive appearance of an all-time great.
Security forces and ground staff worked through the week to get the stadium ready for the broadcast spotlight. A fixture that normally draws local regional interest is now an international television attraction. The local derby against Forli was already tense, but the presence of a global superstar has amplified every detail.
Sunday will test whether nostalgia can overcome the reality of third-tier defending. The starting whistle sounds at Stadio Bruno Benelli on Sunday afternoon, when Ronaldinho finally takes the pitch to chase his 300th goal.
Source: BBC Sport
