They shaped football for years: the Brazilian Ronaldinho and the Portuguese Luís Figo. On the pitch during their playing days and off the pitch after their careers. Although that's not quite true. The gifted (ex-)footballers will be playing a charity game in April, each as captain of the two teams.
And if Ronaldinho and Figo want to put together a team, then the big names in world football will be there: Éric Abidal, Cafu, Youri Djorkaeff, Luis García, Nuno Gomes, Christian Karembeu, Fernando Hierro, Jari Litmanen, Gaizka Mendieta, Robert Pirès, Célia Sasic and David Trezeguet have already confirmed their participation. Alex Frei, a Swiss legend, will also be taking part.
Two prominent teams naturally also include two prominent coaches. In Luís Figo's team, this is none other than Carlo Ancelotti, who was still on the sidelines at Bayern Munich until last September. For Ronaldinho's team, France coach Didier Deschamps is doing the honors. And as the "cherry on top", Pierluigi Collina, probably the most charismatic referee in history, will be officiating the charity match.
UEFA and the United Nations are behind the project. The fact that the match is taking place in Geneva is not surprising given the UN headquarters in the Calvin city and the UEFA headquarters in Nyon VD (half an hour's drive from Geneva) - and should of course please Swiss football fans. What's more, the ticket prices are very moderate.
The proceeds from the event - which includes a charity dinner and a digital football auction in addition to the match - will go to the UEFA Foundation for Children, which finances humanitarian and development projects. It supports children with disabilities at a local and global level.
"As players, it's great that we can give something back to society in this way and help to create a better world. We are counting on the fans to come to the stadium in their droves," said an enthusiastic Luís Figo.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin believes in the great power that football can develop: "Footballers can have a huge impact on other people's lives, so it's great to see so many football stars getting involved in such a great cause. I firmly believe that our sport can play a key role in bringing about social change."
MATCH FOR SOLIDARITY
Sat April 21, 2018, Stade de Genève
TICKETS
