A charity football match featuring the likes of Kaka, Michael Owen, John Terry and Petr Cech will take place in Portugal on Monday, with an aim of raising over €1million (£860,000) for major non-profits.
The Legends Charity Game will pit a squad of Portugal’s all-time greats - including Nani, Deco and Luis Figo - against a “World Legends” group comprised of 20 footballing icons from around the globe, plus a surprise guest from another sporting realm.
Kicking off at 8pm BST on September 15, it will be the first in a series of annual charity matches contested at Sporting’s Estadio Jose Alvalade until 2030, when Portugal co-host the World Cup.
Ricardo Carvalho, a name familiar to Premier League fans from his title-winning time at Chelsea, is among those limbering up for the hosts alongside countryman and fellow former Real Madrid defender Pepe, who retired following last year’s European Championship after a career spanning more than two decades.
Ex-Chelsea duo Cech and Terry will be among those tasked with stopping former Blues team-mate Deco - now Barcelona’s sporting director - and legendary winger Figo, while Nani is set to come up against former Manchester United colleague Edwin van der Sar.
Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos is down as a player-manager for the visiting contingent, whose other defensive options include Carles Puyol, Javier Zanetti and Marco Materazzi.
As for the attacking talent on display, former players such as Alessandro Del Piero, Henrik Larsson, Hristo Stoichkov and Gheorghe Hagi will lace up their boots in a squad also containing undisputed heavyweight world champion boxer Oleksandr Usyk.
Organisers are hopeful of a full turn-out at the 50,000-capacity venue, with “millions” more expected to tune in to watch the action online and on TV from around the globe.
The event is a “rallying cry for unity, compassion, and purpose,” its official website says, adding: “Every goal scored, every cheer from the stands, and every donation raised will help transform lives across Ukraine, Portugal and around the world.”
Where to watch Legends Charity Game
TV channel: The game will not be shown live on television in the UK.
Live stream: However, all the action will be streamed live for free on the ITVX website and app, with build-up starting at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
According to the event’s official website, which contains other streaming options for viewers around the world, an English language live stream will also be available in the UK from 7pm on the YouTube channel FUTBIN.
