Luís Figo during his visit in December
A team of former Portuguese national team stars has arrived in Macau for a series of promotional activities that include an exhibition match.
The “Portugal Icons” is led by legendary Luís Figo and also includes famous names representing Portugal in major international events such as the World Cup or the European Cup, including Nuno Gomes, Pauleta, Dimas, Tiago, Bosingwa, Maniche, Hélder Postiga and Ricardo Quaresma.
For most, Figo is the best-known name of the Portuguese side due to his phenomenal career: not just wearing the national jersey of Portugal, but mostly under the world-famous banners of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.
He won 127 caps for the Portuguese national team, setting a record, and has been described as one of his generation’s best players.
Besides many team titles, Figo was honored with the Ballon d’Or in 2000 and FIFA World Player of the Year 2001, surpassing British star David Beckham.
He is also part of the FIFA 100, a list of players chosen by late football legend Pelé to commemorate FIFA’s 100th anniversary.
He is regarded as a football legend by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
This is the second time that Figo has visited Macau, having been in the SAR late last year to take part in the inaugural Asia’s Sports Collectors Convention.
Five-a-side exhibition match on Sunday
The “Portugal Icons” will take on the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Flying Dragons, a team consisting of football players from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau (GBA and Hong Kong All Stars Sports Association.
Among those representing the GBA Flying Dragons will be names such as Natalis Chan, Eddie Ng, Frankie Lam, Eddie Cheung, Danny Chan, Chan Chi Hong, Leslie George Santos, Wong Chin Hung, Chan Tat Sun, Che Chi Man, Emmanuel Noruega, Hoi Man Io, Wu Qunli, Hu Zhijun, and Lu Lin.
According to information from organizers SJM Resorts S.A., the match will take place at the East Asian Games Dome and will consist of two parts of 20 minutes each.
The match kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday (May 19).
Additionally, among several promotional activities, organizers are also said to be holding a “Legends of Tomorrow – Football Camp” to allow local young players to interact with the football “stars.”
The program of the event also includes several musical and dance performances with Tai Chi Band, “Street Dance of China 2” including Ye Yin, Long Fei, MC Liao Bo, and DJ Li Yulong.
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