Ronaldinho makes debut for Italian side Ravenna after 11-year hiatus in playing career

Ronaldinho played 45 minutes on his return to professional football in Italy. The 46-year-old Brazil great announced in June that he had signed for the Serie C side Ravenna, 11 years after he appeared to have brought his illustrious career to a close with Fluminense.

Five months later, he was in the starting lineup as Ravenna took on their local rivals Forlì.

Ronaldinho, wearing the No 10 shirt, entered the stadium to great fanfare, with the 5,000-capacity Stadio Bruno Benelli adding a temporary 1,800-capacity stand – dubbed “R10” – for the occasion. Flares and smoke bombs were let off in the stands while Andrea Bocelli’s “Con Te Partiro” blasting out of the stadium’s speakers.

Ronaldinho retired having scored 299 goals but his 300th will have to wait, with the World Cup winner showing some nice touches and involved in Ravenna’s opening goal from Giulio Donati but unable to create a sight of goal for himself.

The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner acknowledged the fans at the end of the first half and he was replaced by Matteo Maggio when the sides came back out.

Ronaldinho, who has also become a shareholder in the club, hinted there could be more appearances to come, telling Sky Italia: “It went by too fast, that has always been football for me. Is this my last one? I don’t know. If the president keeps calling me, I will come back. It is always a pleasure. I told the president, if he needs me, then I will be here.

“It was lovely to be here, playing, having the buildup in the dressing room. Football has always been the most wonderful thing in my life.”

Ravenna, who have not even played in Serie B since 2008, are second in their regional group in Serie C and came into the weekend’s fixtures six points behind the leaders Spezia.

It is Ronaldinho’s second spell in Italy, albeit at a much lower level, after three seasons with Milan from 2008 to 2011, where he won one Serie A title. He also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in a trophy-laden career that included the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the 2005 Ballon d’Or award.

He scored 94 goals in 207 matches for Barcelona and 33 times in 97 games for Brazil. He has also played for Brazilian sides Gremio, Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro, and for Querétaro in Mexico.