Video from Ronaldinho’s first training session with Ravenna has come out, and it’s almost unbelievable!
Ronaldinho, the famous Barcelona and Brazil star, is training with Italian Serie C team Ravenna as he gets ready for his exciting return to football – and video from the session shows he still has his magic touch.
Ronaldinho became a shareholder and ambassador for Ravenna back in June. At the same time, it was announced he signed as a player, with the plan to play in at least one Serie C game this season.
The 46-year-old has now picked his comeback match: a home game against Forli on Sunday. The match will be free to watch on YouTube, and Ronaldinho flew in for his first – and likely only – training session with the team.
Videos shared on social media, first by Fabrizio Romano and then by Ronaldinho’s official account, show the 46-year-old getting ready to control a long pass from a teammate.
Even though the ball looks like it might fly past him, Ronaldinho quickly stretches out his right leg to stop it perfectly, bringing it down smoothly. He then takes a touch before passing it back up the field.
Wondering if Ronaldinho still has his skills? The clip says it all – yes, he definitely does.
While no one expects incredible athletic moments on Sunday, fans who bought tickets will likely be hoping for some magical plays like this one.
One fan joked, “If this was any other player, I’d say it’s AI.”
Another said, “He has a better touch than players 25 years younger.”
A third wrote, “Ronaldinho, at 46, still controls the ball better than almost every footballer today. What a genius.”
And another added, “How can someone at 45 pull off moves no one else can, even at their peak? Ronaldinho’s magic is one of a kind.”
Talking to Gazzetta dello Sport about his comeback, Ronaldinho said, “I’m happy. After so long, I can get back on the pitch. I want to bring joy to new fans. I came back because of my friendship with Ravenna president Ignazio Cipriani and the dreams we share for the future.
“Will I put on a show? I’m here to enjoy a special moment. I’ve won everything I wanted before, and now I have this chance to do something in football again that makes me happy. I hope we all have a great time together on this new adventure.”