Ronaldinho has vowed to return to football later this year as he seeks to kickstart his stalled career.

The 36-year-old former Barcelona star has not played competitively since ending a disappointing two-month spell with Rio de Janeiro outfit Fluminense last September.

"At the moment I'm only getting involved in [promotional] events but in the second half of the year you can be sure that I'm going to play again," Ronaldinho told reporters at an event in Sao Paulo on Thursday night.

In March, Ronaldinho's brother and manager, Roberto Assis, said the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner was hoping to sign with a club in the US or China.

He added that the attacking midfielder had ruled out returning to a Brazilian outfit.