Ronaldinho Gaúcho, the 46-year-old former world player of the year, has agreed to join the Italian third-division club Ravenna. The Brazilian star, who is currently in the United States for the 2026 World Cup, will be officially presented at an event in Miami on June 23, according to multiple reports.
A Strategic Return to the Pitch
The announcement of Ronaldinho’s signing with Ravenna has sparked global interest, though officials suggest the move carries as much weight for marketing as it does for the squad’s tactical rotation. While reports from Italy initially surfaced via La Gazzetta dello Sport, the move was later confirmed to the AFP by sources close to the player.
Despite the high-profile nature of the signing, Ravenna’s leadership is managing expectations regarding the Brazilian’s actual time on the field. Vice-president Ariedo Braida, who previously played a role in bringing Ronaldinho to AC Milan in 2008, emphasized that the club views the player as a unique asset.
“He is a magical player and will have his contract; it is a great achievement for us. Will he play at 46? It depends, but let’s say he will have his contract.” Ariedo Braida, vice-president of Ravenna, via LaPresse
Braida later added in statements reported by the Ansa news agency that the club is not ruling out appearances, noting that a champion of his caliber “is in a superior category and has no age.” In the context of Italian football, players over 40 are rare in professional tiers, but the Italian third division, known as Serie C, has increasingly become a landing spot for high-profile veterans looking to transition into coaching or ownership roles while maintaining a presence on the pitch. The league operates with strict roster regulations, including age and homegrown player quotas, which the club will have to navigate to integrate Ronaldinho into the official match-day squad.
Inside the Ravenna Project
Ravenna, a club founded in 1913, has long struggled to regain the prominence it enjoyed in the 1990s. The team, which plays at the Stadio Bruno Benelli and is identified by its red and yellow colors, last saw sustained success in the second division, with its final stint in the Serie B ending after the 2007/08 season, as detailed by O Globo. Since then, the club has navigated financial and administrative challenges that kept it away from Italy’s top tiers. The Stadio Bruno Benelli, which holds roughly 12,000 spectators, has seen attendance fluctuate significantly as the club has moved through various levels of the Italian football pyramid.
The current ownership, led by Ignazio Cipriani, appears to be using the signing to elevate the club’s international profile. Beyond the roster addition, Ronaldinho has reportedly acquired a percentage of the club, transitioning into an investor role. This dual capacity as a player-investor highlights a broader trend of celebrity athletes leveraging their brand to revitalize legacy clubs in lower divisions, a model seen in other European leagues where former stars purchase equity to drive commercial revenue and attract sponsorship deals that would otherwise be unavailable to a third-division side.
What Ronaldinho Said About the Move
In comments shared across various outlets, including the Italian sports press and social media statements, Ronaldinho expressed a clear desire to engage with the sport in a new capacity.
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“I am eager to return to dance with the ball and write a new chapter in history with Ignazio Cipriani and his whole family. Football has always been a source of joy for me and I want to bring that same spirit to Ravenna.” Ronaldinho, via La Gazzetta dello Sport
The event in Miami on June 23 serves as the official launchpad for this partnership. During the presentation, the club plans to unveil its new uniform and announce a charitable donation to Street Soccer USA, signaling that the organization intends to focus on community and promotional impact alongside the competitive aspects of the Serie C season. This move aligns with broader industry trends where international clubs utilize the U.S. market—heightened by the 2026 World Cup—to build fanbases and secure commercial partnerships outside of their home region.
The Road Ahead for the Serie C Side
While fans of the two-time world player of the year may hope to see him in official competitive matches, current reporting suggests the arrangement will likely prioritize commercial actions, exhibitions, and promotional events. As GZH reported, the club’s leadership is treating the signing as an extraordinary opportunity to put the Ravenna name back into the global conversation.
For the club, the partnership with a player who won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 is a calculated risk aimed at reversing years of obscurity. Whether this results in significant on-field contributions or remains a high-visibility marketing venture, the deal has succeeded in its immediate goal: centering the Ravenna brand in the international football discourse for the first time in nearly two decades. The Serie C season typically begins in late summer, and the club will be looking to bolster its squad depth to ensure they remain competitive in a league known for its physical intensity and tactical rigidity, qualities that often test the endurance of veteran players.
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