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Ronaldinho returns in search of ‘beautiful’ 300th goal

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Former Brazil star Ronaldinho, 46, is coming out of retirement to play for Italian third-division club Ravenna FC.
  • He aims to score his 300th career goal, stating he feels in shape and wants to help his new teammates win.
  • The club's owner confirmed Ronaldinho's involvement is not just a marketing stunt and that he will also become a shareholder.

Former Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion Ronaldinho is set to make a surprising comeback to professional football at the age of 46. After retiring in 2015, the Brazilian legend will play for Ravenna FC, a team in the Italian third division, with the stated goal of scoring his 300th career goal.

I’m very happy to be here with friends, we have a team that can do something good.

— RonaldinhoRonaldinho expressed his happiness about joining Ravenna FC.

Ronaldinho, who last played an official match in September 2015 for Brazilian club Fluminense, expressed his excitement about joining Ravenna. "Coming back to Italy is wonderful, I’m here to help my teammates win," he said during his presentation on a beach in Ravenna. "If I could score my 300th goal, that would be even more beautiful."

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.

— RonaldinhoRonaldinho discussed his potential playing time and his commitment to the team.

The comeback was announced in June by Ignazio Cipriani, the Italian-American businessman who has owned Ravenna FC since 2024. Cipriani emphasized that Ronaldinho's return is driven by a "romantic objective" to score one last goal and is not merely a marketing ploy. He also revealed that Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in the club.

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

— RonaldinhoRonaldinho stated his physical condition and his aspiration for his 300th career goal.

Ronaldinho, celebrated for his dazzling skills during stints with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan, will not feature in Ravenna's Serie C season opener against Reggiana on Monday. Ravenna finished third in their group last season and aims for promotion to Serie B, a league they haven't competed in since 2008.

His objective is romantic, to try to score his last goal. His involvement is not a token gesture or a marketing stunt to get people talking about us.

— Ignazio CiprianiRavenna FC owner Ignazio Cipriani described Ronaldinho's motivation for returning and dismissed it as a marketing stunt.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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