Ronaldinho Confirms Maiden Kolkata Visit Ahead of Durga Puja Festivities

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is set to make his first-ever visit to the football-crazy city of Kolkata ahead of the Durga Puja festival in mid-October. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner is following in the footsteps of other football icons like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, who have graced the city with their presence.

On his official Facebook page, Ronaldinho shared his excitement, saying, “Hello Everybody, I will be doing my maiden trip to Kolkata this mid-October. I know Kolkata has a huge number of Brazil fans, and I am very excited to meet them.” During his visit, he also plans to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and gift her a jersey.

In a surprising twist, Ronaldinho expressed his interest in learning cricket from the iconic Sourav Ganguly, acknowledging the sport’s popularity in the city. He stated, “I know cricket is very popular, and this time I want to learn cricket from Bengal’s ‘Dada.'”

During his visit, Ronaldinho will engage in various activities, including interacting with sponsors, participating in felicitation programs, and promoting the beautiful game. His visit aims to infuse some Samba Magic into the Durga Puja celebrations, and he expressed his love for the city, saying, “Ami tomader bhalo bhashi (I love you all).”

Ronaldinho is scheduled to arrive on October 16 and will stay in the city for two days before heading to Dhaka. His itinerary includes playing a charity football match, interacting with trainees in a football academy, and unveiling Durga Puja pandals across the city. Football enthusiasts and fans of the Brazilian legend can look forward to an exciting and memorable visit this Durga Puja season.