Icon Ronaldinho makes winning return to pro football in Italy’s third division

RAVENNA, Italy(AFP)—Greying and rounder in the face than during his prime, Ronaldinho made a winning return to professional football on Sunday for Ravenna, an ambitious club in Italy’s third tier aiming to reach Serie A.

Under the watchful eye of Ignazio Cipriani, the Italian-American businessman who has owned the club since 2024, Ronaldinho perfectly played his role as the centrepiece of a clever PR stunt.

The 46-year-old Brazilian great put in a low-key performance in his first competitive match since playing for Fluminense in 2015, as Ravenna, bidding for promotion to Serie B, beat local rivals Forli 2-0 in front of a packed Stadio Bruno Benelli on Italy’s Adriatic coast.