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Archive photo · 12 August 2014Ronaldinho Returns at 46 as Ravenna Beats Forlì 2-0 in Serie C Derby
10 Other9 Western Mainstream1 Asian3 Other source typesPhoto: Incola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Ronaldinho returned to competitive football at 46 after 11-year absence. He started for Ravenna in a 2-0 derby victory over Forlì in Serie C.
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Return in Ravenna Derby
Ronaldinho returned to competitive football at age 46 for Ravenna in a 2-0 Serie C derby victory over Forlì, after more than 11 years away from the pitch.
Ronaldinho made his first official appearance since Sept. 26, 2015, when he last played for Fluminense, and he started the match at Stadio Bruno Benelli.
Ronaldinho helped create Ravenna's opening goal in the 36th minute, when he held off a defender before passing to Leonardo Lonardi, who set up Giulio Donati for a strike from outside the penalty area.
Ronaldinho was substituted at halftime after playing 45 minutes, and he left the pitch as the stadium gave him a standing ovation.
Ronaldinho had been hoping to reach 300 goals as a professional, after scoring 299 goals in his regular career.
Voices After the Match
Ronaldinho told Sky Sport Italia, "It was lovely to be here, playing, having the build-up in the dressing room," after his comeback appearance for Ravenna. Ronaldinho also said, "If the president calls me, I'll be back," when asked if he might play again for Ravenna. The match drew a media circus at halftime, with journalists surrounding Ronaldinho, and Dida joined him on the pitch.
The sold-out Bruno Benelli stadium had a new tribune installed in the distinguished sector, renamed R10 in honor of the Brazilian champion. More than 200 accreditation requests arrived for the Ravenna-Forlì match, including about 50 from photographers.
What Comes Next
Ravenna's 2-0 victory over Forlì allowed the home team to consolidate second place in Group B and to extend the gap again over Pescara, third, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Ravenna and Forlì played the match as the fourteenth matchday of Serie C Group B, with Ravenna coming off three consecutive wins and Forlì seeking to continue a home victory over Gubbio to stay outside the relegation zone. Giuseppe Vingo of the Pisa AIA section served as referee, Nechita and Nicosia served as line judges, and Renzi served as fourth official.
The derby at Bruno Benelli Stadium in Ravenna was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2026, and the broadcast was on Sky Sport Calcio and Sky Sport 251. The match was scheduled for 17:30 local time in Italy, and the game was available through different broadcast options in Latin America and Spain.