Ronaldinho to return to action with Italian club Ravenna

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is set to make a return to competitive action next month when he joins Italian third-tier side Ravenna for a match against local rivals Forli on November 15, according to the Serie C club. The 46-year-old, who enjoyed stints at Barcelona and AC Milan and won the 2002 World Cup and the Ballon d'Or in 2005, last played professionally for Brazilian club Fluminense in 2015.

He officially retired from football in 2018. The Italian club Ravenna signed Ronaldinho in June, and he has since acquired a stake in the team, owned by his friend Ignazio Cipriani. Cipriani revealed that the move was aimed at bringing the entire city closer to the team. Ronaldinho kept mum on whether he would play when he arrived in Italy in August, but he did not rule out the possibility of scoring his 300th career goal.

He stated at the time that he is there "to help." The derby against Forli will take place at Ravenna's Stadio Bruno Benelli. Currently, Ravenna sit second in Serie C Group B with 20 points from 10 games, eight points behind leaders Spezia.