Ronaldinho lands in Italy ahead of remarkable pro comeback aged 46

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FT Desk

Ronaldinho has officially landed in Italy to complete an unbelievable football comeback with Serie C side, Ravenna.

The deal to bring the Brazilian legend back to Italian football was first announced in June by Ravenna owner Ignazio Cipriani, an Italian-American businessman.

When it was announced, there was confusion as to whether Ronaldinho would actually play a professional match again or whether this was simply a PR stunt, but the plan is indeed for him to lace up his boots once again - and he's even targeting his 300th goal.

"I'm very happy to be here with friends, we have a team that can do something good," he said on Thursday.

"Will you see me play? I don't know, only the coach knows that. Coming back to Italy is wonderful, I'm here to help my teammates win.

"As you can see, I'm in shape, I feel good... If I could score my 300th goal, that would be even more beautiful."

Ronaldinho is set to become a shareholder in Ravenna as well as featuring in a playing capacity.

"His objective is romantic, to try to score his last goal," said Cipriani.

"His involvement is not a token gesture or a marketing stunt to get people talking about us."

Ravenna are based in Emilia-Romagna, with roots dating back to 1913. The club has spent most of its history outside Italy’s top two divisions, although it enjoyed notable spells in Serie B, including between 1996 and 2001.

The club has entered a new era since being acquired by Cipriani and investment partner Black Duck in 2024. After an impressive 2025-26 campaign in Serie C (Group B Centre), when they finished as the highest-ranked third-placed side, Ravenna are aiming to push towards promotion

Best in the world

Ronaldinho’s spell at Barcelona represented the height of his extraordinary career. After making his name in Europe with Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian moved to Camp Nou and became the face of a team that won the Champions League in 2006.

His outrageous skill, unpredictable dribbling and effortless creativity made him one of the most entertaining players football had ever seen, establishing him as arguably the sport’s biggest star before the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

His later years, however, were a very different story. Injuries increasingly affected Ronaldinho, while his famous lifestyle also contributed to a decline in his fitness and form.

He rejected a move to Manchester City in favour of AC Milan in 2008, but spent just two-and-a-half years in Italy before heading back to Brazil. He then played for Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro, before brief spells with Mexican club Queretaro and Fluminense brought his club career to an end.