Ronaldinho Returns at 46 as Ravenna Win Derby

Ronaldinho is playing football again. The former Brazil forward, now 46, pulled on a Ravenna shirt for a derby against Forlì in Italy's third tier and played the first half of the match. Ravenna went on to win, and the appearance has become the main talking point from the fixture.

It is a long way from the stadiums where Ronaldinho made his name. He starred for Barcelona and later AC Milan, won the Ballon d'Or in 2005, and was a central part of the Brazil side that lifted the 2002 World Cup. His close control, outrageous skill and trademark smile made him one of the most watched players of his generation, and those qualities are the reason fans still turn out to see him, even at this level.

For Ravenna, the move is more than a headline. A player of his profile brings attention to a club outside the top flight, with supporters, local media and neutral fans all drawn to a name that rarely appears in lower-league fixtures. Whether the comeback leads to a longer run in the squad is an open question, but the first half was enough to remind people why he was once considered one of the best players in the world.