Don't Miss Ballon d'Or Legend Ronaldinho's Spectacular Comeback — Here's How to Watch Live for Free

Before a certain grinning Brazilian Ballon d'Or winner arrived on the scene, Ravenna was an Italian city best known as the resting place of Dante's tomb.

Carved into the lid of the ancient Roman sarcophagus is a Latin inscription describing the deceased poet's soul as "a guest unto a better camp" now "happier than the stars." The demise of Ronaldinho's soccer career has proven to be neither so final nor so cheerful.

More than 4,000 days after his last appearance for Fluminense in Brazil's top division, the former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan icon will step onto the pitch in Italy's third tier for Ravenna FC on Sunday. Head coach Andrea Mandorlini has confirmed that the 46-year-old playmaker will start against Fórli as Ravenna push for promotion amid the fanfare surrounding this remarkable occasion.

"He is one of the greatest players of the modern era," Mandorlini said, taking some liberties with the appropriate tense. "And we need to get a result. We always play with three forwards. He will be one of the three."

Fitness was never Ronaldinho's strongest suit even during his prime years in the mid-2000s. Over the past decade, the World Cup-winning veteran has spent more nights in a Paraguayan jail cell than on a professional soccer field—though he did reportedly score five goals and assist six more in a prison yard kickabout that earned his team a roasted suckling pig.

Sunday's prize is a shot at the 300th professional goal of Ronaldinho's career and something even more intoxicating than the thrill of scoring: the spotlight.

What Time Does Ronaldinho's Return in Ravenna vs. Forli Kick Off?

𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗼 is 🔙 #Ravenna #Ronaldinho #DAZN pic.twitter.com/7Fz9yLEZ9S

Ronaldinho famously made his Barcelona debut in 2003 at five minutes past midnight so the club could fit in the fixture while adhering to FIFA regulations during an inconveniently timed international break. Fans who stayed up and enjoyed the complimentary gazpacho at Camp Nou were rewarded handsomely.

The crack of the ball off the underside of the crossbar was nearly as thunderous as the roar that erupted to mark Ronaldinho's debut goal. The reverberations—from both the shot and the celebrating crowd—even registered on the seismometer at the Observatori Fabra, located 2.8 miles away. "It had to work," Ronaldinho later reflected. "Midnight is my time."

Those filing into the expanded stands of the Stadio Comunale Bruno Benelli will only need to wait until the afternoon.

How to Watch Ronaldinho's Retirement Comeback on TV, Live Stream for Free

Just 289 supporters turned out to watch Ravenna's previous match, a 3–1 victory away to FC Vado. It's fair to say Sunday's game will attract considerably more attention.

Viewers in the United States can watch the action on Paramount+, while fans in the United Kingdom can follow Ronaldinho's return via a live stream on the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

This is not a geo-restricted broadcast. The entire purpose is to maximize global viewership, and Ravenna's match against Fórli will also be streamed on Ronaldinho's dedicated channel, R10 Comeback, on the Kick platform.

Why Is Ronaldinho Making His Return for Ravenna?

Vão dizer que é IA kkkkkkk Tô na área Ravenna 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/y4LaKXJq8x

The appeal for Ravenna is clear; Ronaldinho brings a level of attention the club could never have generated on its own without a player who holds such a cherished place in the hearts of soccer fans worldwide.

As club owner Ignazio Cipriani declared at the veteran's unveiling: "I hope his involvement inspires a new generation of supporters to fall in love with Ravenna."

Cipriani harbors grand ambitions for the club he acquired in 2024. The heir to the Cipriani restaurant empire envisions Ravenna following in Como's remarkable footsteps. "It's not a provocation. Serie A is the goal I declared from day one because I intend to reach it," he told The Guardian earlier this year. "And the Champions League remains the ultimate horizon we want to walk toward."

Ravenna have already climbed from Serie D to C under Cipriani's ownership and currently occupy second place in the third tier. Ronaldinho entered the picture through mutual connections forged during his time at Milan between 2008 and 2011.

"We connected through Lorenzo Tonetti and Ariedo Braida," Cipriani explained, "two individuals who spent over 20 years at AC Milan and had Ronaldinho as a player. The idea of bringing him on board was a dream I nurtured from the moment I bought the club. Thanks to Lorenzo and Ariedo, we met, began talking, and a genuine friendship developed. From that bond came many ideas for the club's future."

Ronaldinho is no stranger to unconventional business ventures in his post-playing days. The ever-smiling Brazilian, guided by his older brother Assis, has been linked to all manner of partnerships, with varying degrees of success. Lacing up his boots for Ravenna is simply another extension of his entrepreneurial spirit.

"He also wants to launch his personal brand, R10, in the mold of Michael Jordan, so Ravenna will be the first club to wear it," Cipriani told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Ronaldinho will also join our club's management but will be, to all intents and purposes, a player."

There is also the sense that Ronaldinho is in the grip of the same compulsion that afflicts so many sporting legends—an inability to truly walk away. That yearning for the pitch is what drove him to extend his playing career to the age of 35. Even 11 years later, that hunger hasn't faded.

"I cannot wait to dance with the ball," Ronaldinho beamed ahead of his comeback. "Football has always been joyful for me, and I'm excited to bring that spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin!"