Ronaldinho, 46, signs with Italian third-tier club Ravenna

PARIS, France — Brazilian former footballer Ronaldinho has signed with Ravenna, an Italian third-division club based in the Emilia-Romagna region, ending a retirement that began more than a decade ago. The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner was pictured at the signing ceremony in an all-white outfit alongside club owner Ignazio Cipriani, posing with the new jersey placed on the trophy. Speaking to Reuters, the 46-year-old said a long-standing friendship with the Cipriani family paved the way for the move. "I am very happy, I hope things go well," he said, adding that shared goals and a similar mindset brought the parties together. He expressed a desire to take Ravenna to a better place, framing his return as more than a nostalgic gesture and saying he hoped to inspire younger generations to pursue their dreams. Ronaldinho's last club appearance came in 2015 with Fluminense. Over a 17-year professional career, he became one of the most decorated figures in world football, winning major titles with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan, as well as the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. His move to Ravenna has placed the small Emilia-Romagna club in the international spotlight.