Published Sep 13, 2026 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 13, 2026 | 9:00 AM
Ronaldinho.
Synopsis: Ronaldinho, who last visited Keralam in 2016 and narrowly escaped a freak accident in Kozhikode, is set to return to the state for a football legends’ clash in Kochi. The Brazilian great will be the star attraction when Brazil Legends meet the Indian All Stars in Kochi on 23 September, giving Keralam fans another chance to see one of football’s most celebrated showmen in action.
The last time Ronaldinho came to Keralam, his visit turned into an unforgettable mix of football frenzy and a frightening near-miss.
A decade later, the Brazilian legend is set to return to the state — this time with the spotlight firmly on the football pitch.
The 46-year-old former Brazil star is expected to arrive in Kochi for the ‘Return of the Titans’ exhibition match, scheduled to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor, on 23 September.
The friendly, organised by Gammen Sports, will see Brazil Legends take on Indian All Stars, bringing together some of the biggest names of Brazilian and Indian football from different generations.
For Keralam, however, Ronaldinho’s return carries a little more nostalgia.
His first visit to the state in January 2016 — he came as the brand ambassador of the revived Sait Nagjee International Football Tournament — was marked by scenes of extraordinary excitement. Thousands of fans turned up at Kozhikode airport hoping for a glimpse of the man who had once made football look effortless.
And then came the incident that could have turned the visit into a tragedy.
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After a programme at Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls at Nadakkavu in Kozhikode, Ronaldinho was getting into his car to return to his hotel when a traffic signal structure collapsed directly in front of the vehicle.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho
The incident occurred amid the rush surrounding the football star. The dysfunctional signal, which had reportedly remained out of use for years, came down as people gathered around the area. Police officer downplayed the incident, saying the structure had been unintentionally pulled down amid the crowd.
Ronaldinho escaped unhurt.
He had arrived in Kozhikode for the inauguration-related programmes of the Nagjee tournament, which was being revived after a gap of 21 years. The organisers had brought in the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year as the tournament’s brand ambassador in a bid to generate interest ahead of the event.
The visit left behind more than photographs and football memories. The image of the Brazilian great narrowly escaping a collapsing traffic signal became one of the most talked-about episodes of his Kerala trip.
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Much has changed since that visit, although Ronaldinho’s appeal has hardly faded.
A World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or winner in 2005, Ronaldinho was capped 97 times for his country and scored 33 goals. His club career took him through Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan and other top sides, where his distinctive dribbling, audacious passes and trademark toothy smile made him one of football’s most recognisable figures.
He retired from professional football after his final spell with Fluminense in 2015.
But retirement did little to distance him from the game.
In a surprise development in June, Ronaldinho announced a return to competitive football by signing with Italian third-tier club Ravenna, more than a decade after stepping away from the professional game. His message was characteristically Ronaldinho: “I cannot wait to dance with the ball.”
That love for the game is now set to bring him back to Keralam.
The Kochi fixture is expected to attract considerable attention, with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, another key member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning team, among the headline names expected to feature for the Brazilian Legends.
The poster of ‘Return of the Titans’ exhibition match, to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on 23 September.
The Brazilian side is also expected to include former internationals such as Edmilson, Paulo Sergio, Giovanni, Roque Junior, Viola, Amaral, Gustavo Nery, Ricardo Oliveira and Jorginho.
The Indian All Stars, meanwhile, will feature several familiar names from Indian football, including IM Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, Jo Paul Ancheri, CK Vineeth, Climax Lawrence, Mahesh Gawli, Gouramangi Singh, Rino Anto and Mehrajuddin Wadoo, among others.
The Kochi match is part of the second edition of the Return of the Titans exhibition tour, which brings former Brazilian internationals to India and the UAE. The teams had met in Chennai in the previous edition, with Brazil Legends emerging 2-1 winners.
For the fans, though, the scoreboard is likely to be secondary.
What matters is the chance to see Ronaldinho once again — this time he dancing with ball under the lights in Kochi, rather than amid the chaotic scenes of Kozhikode nine years ago.
The man who once made millions fall in love with football is coming back to Keralam.
And if his first visit was remembered for a miraculous escape, his second is expected to be remembered for what he does best — putting the magic back into the beautiful game.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
