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Brazilian football icon and former Barcelona star, Ronaldinho, has been linked with a sensational return to the sport at the age of 46 after reports emerged that he had joined Italian Serie C club Ravenna FC.

The development initially sparked excitement among football fans around the world, with reports suggesting the former World Cup winner had decided to come out of retirement more than a decade after stepping away from professional football.

Ronaldinho officially retired from the game in 2015 following a brief spell with Brazilian club Fluminense, bringing an end to one of the most celebrated careers in football history.

The former attacking midfielder enjoyed a glittering career that saw him win numerous titles, including the FIFA World Cup with Brazil, the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, and the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

Reports indicated that Ravenna FC, a club competing in Italy’s Serie C, had secured Ronaldinho’s signature as part of efforts to boost the club’s profile after narrowly missing promotion last season.

The club’s owner, Ignazio Cipriani, has reportedly been keen on making a major statement in the transfer market, leading to widespread speculation over Ronaldinho’s involvement.

Speaking about the move, Ronaldinho expressed excitement about beginning a new chapter associated with the club.

“New colours, same smile. I can’t wait to get back to dancing on the ball and write a new story together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family,” he said.

“Football has always been a source of joy for me, and I want to bring that same spirit to Ravenna.”

Cipriani also spoke glowingly about the Brazilian legend, describing him as his childhood football idol and one of the players who inspired him growing up.

“Acquiring Ronaldinho is absolutely extraordinary for the club. He was my idol and his impact on football goes beyond what he did on the pitch,” he said.

However, as excitement continued to build, conflicting reports emerged regarding the nature of Ronaldinho’s relationship with the club.

While some reports claimed the football legend had signed as a player, others suggested the arrangement was primarily intended for promotional and marketing purposes rather than competitive football.

The speculation was eventually addressed by Ravenna FC honorary vice-president, Ariedo Braida, who clarified that Ronaldinho would not be playing for the club in Serie C.

According to Braida, the Brazilian is expected to participate in marketing and publicity activities connected to the club but will not feature in official matches.

“Ronaldinho will do a marketing event with us, but he won’t play for Ravenna in Serie C next season,” Braida told The Sun.

“I wish he were still able to play. Dinho was a phenomenon and was a wonderful player.”

Braida also revealed that he shares a long-standing relationship with Ronaldinho dating back to their time together at AC Milan.

“I have a beautiful relationship with him from the Milan days, but he won’t play in Serie C with us,” he added.

The clarification appears to have ended speculation about a competitive comeback for the football legend, although his association with Ravenna is still expected to generate significant international attention.

Despite not returning to professional action, Ronaldinho remains one of the most beloved figures in football history, renowned for his extraordinary skill, creativity, and ability to entertain fans across the globe throughout his illustrious career.

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The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0 win over Australia Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.

The US join fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress and could be assured top spot in Group D if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday.

Excitement had been running high from last week’s US thrashing of Paraguay.

And a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle’s Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and bars.

Even before kickoff, chants of “USA” rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but also a US soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.

Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a calf issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepi.

For the second game running, the US were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the 11th minute.

Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.

Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.

Toothless Australia

Having surprisingly dropped both goalscorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.

The US controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest combining well down the right flank.

Alex Freeman doubled the US lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team’s first shot on target.

Taking a free kick from the right byline, Antonee Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.

Freeman — son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman — was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick Beach. The offside flag went up. But it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.

Australia made three changes at the break — sending on Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the goalscorers against Turkey — and pushed higher up the field.

They were nearly caught out immediately. Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy touch.

Australia’s best chance so far came in the 62nd minute. The dangerous Cristian Volpato — who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament — skied his shot from Irankunda’s cut-back pass.

With the US sitting back, Metcalfe had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankunda was brought down by Richards, and Jason Geria’s close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.

But despite late-flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet and will have the luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.

With home advantage and sparkling form so far, US fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarter-finals, which they last reached in 2002, and even beyond.

AFP

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A French appeals court on Friday has confirmed that Moroccan football icon Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.

In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one.”

“At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said.

A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything; he remains steadfast in his defense,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the decision brought her client “relief and hope.”

The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.

She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.

She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.

Speaking to the press for the first time in a Mediapart article published Thursday, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added.