Ronaldinho will officially return to competitive football on November 15, lining up for Ravenna against local rivals Forlì in a Serie C derby at the Stadio Bruno Benelli. The match will be the 46-year-old Brazilian's first competitive appearance since leaving Fluminense in 2015, ending an 11-year hiatus from the professional game.
Ravenna announced the signing of the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner in a surprise move in June, but he has not yet featured for the Serie C club. His only public appearance so far came at a beachside unveiling in Marina di Ravenna in August, following an initial announcement made in Miami.
Confirming the fixture date, Ravenna released a statement describing it as an event set to turn the world's gaze toward the Stadio Bruno Benelli. "The whole soccer world thought it too good to be true, instead we can now officially confirm a grand return: The return of the magic, the smile, and a talent that has captivated generations of fans, regardless of their team loyalties or soccer allegiances," the club said.
The statement also reflected on the build-up since the signing was first revealed. "From the announcement in Miami ... To the warm welcome from fans on the beach in Marina di Ravenna, the anticipation has grown, fueled by a mix of excitement, curiosity, and disbelief," it continued.
Ravenna added that club president Ignazio Cipriani's vision now had a fixed date attached to it. "The vision of President Cipriani, which ignited the fans' imaginations and sparked debate well beyond Italy's borders, now has a concrete date. Ronaldinho will play at the Benelli, opening a new chapter in a story that never ceases to surprise," the club said.
This marks Ronaldinho's second spell in Italian football, following a three-year stint at AC Milan between 2008 and 2011. Ravenna's statement suggested his significance goes beyond trophies: "There are footballers who are remembered for what they have won and others also for how they made people feel. Ronaldinho belongs to that rare breed of champions capable of turning soccer into pure joy - through an unexpected move, a moment of creative brilliance, a smile that has bridged stadiums and generations alike."
Ravenna currently sit second in their geographically divided Serie C group. Club president Cipriani, who also heads the Cipriani restaurant business, has said he dreams of seeing Ronaldinho score the final goal of his career in Ravenna's colours. As the club put it in its statement, "The wait is almost over. The magic is coming back to the field."
