A charity football match bringing together some of the world’s most famous and successful former footballers will be held at Estádio José de Alvalade in Lisbon on Monday, September 25.
The inaugural Legends Charity Game, organised by Sport Global, will mark the start of an annual series set to run until 2030, with the aim of raising €1 million for charities.
The event pits Portugal Legends against a team of World Legends, kicking off at 8pm.
The Portugal Legends will be captained by Luís Figo, joined by stars of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning team such as Ricardo Quaresma, Nani, Eliseu, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe. Champions League winners Fábio Coentrão, Maniche, Pauleta, Vítor Baía, José Bosingwa and Deco are also confirmed, alongside other iconic names including Beto, Jorge Andrade, Dani, Tiago Mendes, Simão, Hélder Postiga, Nuno Gomes and Costinha, who will act as player-coach.
The World Legends side will be no less formidable, featuring international icons such as Kaká, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Edwin van der Sar, Rene Higuita, Carles Puyol, Roberto Carlos, John Terry, Cafu, Javier Zanetti, Marco Materazzi, Gheorghe Hagi, Youri Djorkaeff, Christian Karembeu, Krasimir Balakov, Gaizka Mendieta, Marek Hamsik, Javier Saviola, Michael Owen, Henrik Larsson, Alessandro Del Piero and Hristo Stoichkov.
Players are expected to arrive at 6pm, with stadium doors opening at 6.30pm. A pre-match show will begin at 7.40pm, while fans will be treated to a live halftime performance by Calema, the São Tomé and Príncipe-born, Portugal-based duo known for their blend of pop and afrobeat. Up to 50,000 fans are expected inside the stadium, with millions more watching worldwide.
Luís Figo has expressed his excitement about taking to the pitch again in Portugal: “It is always a pleasure to come back to my country and play football! I look forward to seeing a packed stadium in my home city, Lisbon, for this incredible Legends Charity Game and raising funds for important charity causes.”
Ricardo Quaresma, one of the most talented footballers of his generation, added: “Wearing the Portuguese shirt always filled me with pride, and winning Euro 2016 was the biggest moment of my career. I’m very excited to represent Portugal again, especially for a good cause. Football has the power to bring joy and hope, and using that to support families affected by war and conflict is incredibly important. Playing at home in Lisbon for something that means so much makes the Legends Charity Game even more special.”
Nuno Gomes, one of Portugal’s best-known strikers of the 1990s and 2000s, has also spoken with enthusiasm about the upcoming event: “Being called up to represent Portugal always carried a deep sense of responsibility and national pride, and that feeling is no different ahead of the upcoming Legends Charity Game. Supporting the less fortunate has been a personal priority for a long time.”
All proceeds will be donated through the Sport Global Charitable Foundation to four beneficiaries: the Portuguese Red Cross, Cáritas Portuguesa, International Alert, and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, supporting work from emergency response to healthcare, conflict resolution and humanitarian aid.
Rasmus Sojmark, founder of Sport Global, said: “With the Legends Charity Game, we are connecting fans, legends, music and communities for something bigger than the game itself. This match will bring generations together, and Estádio José Alvalade is a fantastic host for what promises to deliver the best in entertainment for a great cause. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Portuguese Football Federation, as well as all our sponsors and partners, for helping us make this a reality.”
Tickets are already on sale, starting at €10 for adults and €6 for children, with premium seats priced at €35 for adults and €20 for under-12s. Donations can also be made online.
The Legends Charity Game will be staged annually until 2030, with all profits supporting the partner charities through the Sport Global Charitable Foundation, administered under the Prism the Gift Fund, a registered UK charity.
