Ronaldinho, 46, to return to action with Italian club Ravenna

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ExpandRonaldinho poses with his new team shirt as he is presented as a new player for Ravenna FC at Stadio Bruno Benelli in Ravenna, Italy on August 20. Picture: Ciro De Luca/Reuters By Janina Nuno Rios

Brazil great Ronaldinho will return to competitive football next month when he plays for Italian third-tier side Ravenna against local rivals Forli on November 15, the Serie C club announced on Friday.

The 46-year-old former Barcelona and AC Milan forward, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the Ballon d’Or in 2005, last played competitively for Brazilian club Fluminense in 2015. He officially retired in 2018.

Ravenna signed Ronaldinho in June and he later acquired a stake in the club, which is owned by his friend Ignazio Cipriani.

🚨🇧🇷 RONALDINHO IS BACK… AND HE SCORED AT 46! 🤯⚽The football world has just witnessed something unbelievable.After more than a decade away from professional football, the Brazilian magician Ronaldinho has stepped onto the pitch again for Italian Serie C side Ravenna. 🇮🇹🔥… pic.twitter.com/AWVBSPoFOC

Cipriani said the move was intended “to bring the whole city closer to the team”.

Ronaldinho stopped short of confirming he would play when he arrived in Italy in August, although he left open the prospect of scoring the 300th goal of his career.

The derby against Forli will take place at Ravenna’s Stadio Bruno Benelli. Ravenna sit second in Serie C Group B with 20 points from 10 games, eight behind leaders Spezia.

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