{
  "id": 2322257,
  "title": "Ronaldinho returns in search of 'beautiful' 300th goal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/ronaldinho-returns-in-search-of-beautiful-300th-goal",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T06:40:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/08/1515885/ronaldinho-returns-search-beautiful-300th-goal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho announced his return to professional football on Thursday, 11 years after retiring. The 46-year-old aims to score his 300th goal with Italian third-division side Ravenna. A World Cup winner in 2002 and the recipient of the Ballon d'Or in 2005, Ronaldinho played his final official match in September 2015 with Brazilian club Fluminense. Speaking from a beach in Ravenna, he expressed his happiness to be with friends and his team, stating he hopes to contribute to their success. While he is unsure if he will score his 300th goal, he believes playing again in Italy is a wonderful opportunity. The comeback was revealed by Ignazio Cipriani, the Italian-American businessman who owns Ravenna, on the sidelines of the World Cup in Miami. Cipriani emphasized that Ronaldinho's participation is genuine and not a publicity stunt. As part of the deal, Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in the club and will not play against Reggiana in the Serie C season opener. Ravenna, which finished third in last season's third-division championship, aims to return to Serie B after a seven-year absence.",
  "summary": "RAVENNA: Former Brazil star Ronaldinho, who retired from the game in 2015, said on Thursday that he was making a comeback 11 years later with Italian third-division side Ravenna to try and score “a 300th goal.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Ronaldinho returns in search of ‘beautiful’ 300th goal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/ronaldinho-returns-in-search-of-beautiful-300th-goal-2236453",
        "published": "2026-08-20T22:16:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}