When is Ronaldinho playing for Ravenna? Legend is 46 years old
Ronaldinho is preparing for his competitive debut with Italian club Ravenna at age 46, marking his return to professional football after a decade. The club manager has confirmed he will start in the upcoming derby match against Forli.
Why it matters
This story tracks the rare comeback of a Ballon d'Or winner, generating significant interest in lower-tier Italian football.
Hear this story Ronaldinho will roll back the years this weekend when the 46-year-old Brazilian starts his first competitive match in over a decade, and in the unlikely setting of an Italian third-tier derby the World Cup winner may realise his dream of scoring one last time.
The Brazil great and Ballon d'Or winner signed for Ravenna in June, also taking a stake in the club, but because he had not played since his final appearance for Fluminense in 2015, doubts remained over whether fans would ever see him in action.
Ravenna revealed three weeks ago that the former Barcelona and AC Milan player would make his return in Sunday's home clash with local rivals Forli, and on Friday, manager Andrea Mandorlini told reporters that Ronaldinho would start the match.
"He will play from the start, there's no doubt," Mandorlini said.
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