Ronaldinho ends 11-year break at 46 for Ravenna in Serie C derby
Ronaldinho is set to end an 11-year break from competitive football on Sunday, November 15, 2026, when he plays for Ravenna in an official Serie C match against Forlì, in Italy. At 46, the former Brazil star will take the field in Italy’s third division, a return that supports the sporting project led by the Cipriani family.
Fabrizio Romano, a sports journalist who covers the international transfer market, first reported the final deal and the player’s arrival at the training camp. Ronaldinho is also a shareholder of the club, and he works as one of its central promoters.
Promise to Ravenna’s board kept before the derby
Romano described the behind-the-scenes of the move on social media. According to him, the former Brazil No. 10 fulfilled a promise made to the current board and landed in Italy on Friday (13) to join the final training session before the match. Romano said the appearance is a planned step in the partnership Ronaldinho formed with the Cipriani family, who control the club. Ronaldinho later told Italian media he accepted the comeback because of his friendship with the club’s president, Ignazio Cipriani.
Andrea Mandorlini plans a starting role in a 4-3-3 setup
Ravenna‘s head coach, Andrea Mandorlini, told a press conference that he intends to pick the veteran among the starters and is weighing whether to keep a 4-3-3 system. He said the squad is ready to make the tactical adjustments needed to make the most of Ronaldinho’s attacking qualities and vision. The exact playing time has not been confirmed, because reports differ on the minutes and will depend on how the match unfolds.
Eleven years after his last competitive match
The Sunday match ends an interval without competitive games that began in September 2015. That month, Ronaldinho, a former Barcelona and Milan player, took part in Fluminense’s win over Goiás in the Campeonato Brasileiro. He retired with 299 career goals, one short of 300, and has said he hopes to reach that mark at Ravenna. Ravenna are second in Serie C Group B with 29 points, after nine wins, two draws and two defeats.
See also: Lionel Messi caps 208-match Argentina career with goal and two assists against Benin
Kickoff, venue and TV coverage for the derby
Ticket demand has sold out the capacity available for the match, and the club is building a temporary stand with 1,800 seats named R10 at the Benelli stadium. Forlì, meanwhile, are fighting to move away from the relegation places under interim coach Gianluigi Bamonte, who is making his debut in the role.
The confirmed details are listed below. The game is a Serie C fixture, the third division of Italian football, and it is the first official match Ronaldinho plays in more than a decade.
- Competition: Serie C, third division of Italian football
- Venue: Stadio Benelli, in Ravenna
- Date and kickoff: Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 13:30 Brasília time (17:30 in Italy)
- Broadcast: Sky Sport Italia, with a camera dedicated to the Brazilian, and streaming on NOW
- Lineup: Ronaldinho is expected to start, according to coach Andrea Mandorlini
The next steps in the club’s signings depend on the financial return from the Brazilian’s first match on European soil. Ignazio Cipriani has said the aim is to take Ravenna to Serie A, and the derby is part of a plan to make the club’s name known worldwide.
