The former Brazil international Ronaldo has confirmed that he is to come out of retirement with Fort Lauderdale Strikers and is targeting his return at the end-of-season play-offs.

Ronaldo, 38, has not played for four years but has been back in training in an attempt to lose weight. He announced in January he was ready to help out the team in which he has purchased a stake but he has insisted he is unlikely to be ready until the regular season is over.

“It’s going to happen,” Ronaldo said. “I have already said so. But it’s going to be a bit later, in the play-offs.”

The Strikers, formerly Miami FC, play in the NASL and should they make the play-offs then Ronaldo is unlikely to get a game until November.

“For now, we are organising it all, but I am going to have a [weight] goal,” he added.

The former Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid, Milan and Corinthians striker was world player of the year in 1996, 1997 and 2002 and twice a World Cup winner with Brazil.