Football
ESPN staff 8y

Ronaldinho to play Dec. 3 friendly for Mexico third-tier club Cinco Estrellas

Brazil great Ronaldinho, who is not currently signed with a club, will play a Dec. 3 friendly for Mexican league third-division club Cinco Estrellas.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since he left Fluminense last September and was reported to be considering offers from both Major League Soccer and the Chinese Super League.

Despite a one-year hiatus from the game, Ronaldinho told reporters earlier this month that he still feels he has one more club in him before retirement.

"The idea is to play one more year," he said earlier this month during a promotional even in New York for Barcelona. "I've had the chance to play [in the U.S.] many times. I have a lot of friends, many directors at clubs.

This week, he told Monterrey fans: "On the third of December, I will be in Monterrey for a match with Cinco Estrellas. I hope you will be there for the big event."

The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year has been without a contract since he played nine matches for Fluminense between July and September of 2015 after leaving Liga MX side Queretaro.

He made a brief appearance in the Indian Premier Futsal League before returning to Brazil in July to take on a role as ambassador of the 2016 Paralympics.

The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner has played for eight clubs in his career, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2002 World Cup winner spent one season with Mexican League club Queretaro but struggled to make the first team and his contract was terminated in June of 2015.

Monterrey club Cinco Estrellas joined Mexico's fourth division in October of 2015 "to give young people in the Northeast area of the country the chance to live their dream of playing professional football," the club website says.

The club will compete in the third tier beginning in November.

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