Baggio at Maracana in Italy-Brazil ‘Match of the Heart’

Rio de janeiro: Former Italian striker Roberto Baggio, named the best player in the world by FIFA in 1993, will be among the stars on the pitch at the Maracana on Thursday to participate in the “Match of the Heart,” an event inspired by the 1982 and 1994 World Cups to celebrate the friendship between Italy and Brazil and social inclusion, organisers said Wednesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, in 1982 Italy beat Brazil 3-2 with Paolo Rossi’s iconic hat-trick in what has been dubbed the Most Beautiful Match of the Century on their way to their third World Cup trophy. In contrast, in 1994, the Azzurri lost the final to the Cariocas on penalties, with the Divine Ponytail missing his penalty kick along with another Italy great, Franco Baresi.

In Thursday’s event, sponsored by Enel Rio in collaboration with the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Baggio will be accompanied by two 2006 World Cup winners Marco Materazzi and skipper Fabio Cannavaro, as well as Bruno Giordano, Angelo Di Livio, 1982 World Cup winner Alessandro Altobelli, and Marco Amelia.

The Italian champions will face Brazilian Selecao legends such as Cafu, Zico, Rom¡rio, Careca, and G©rson. The match will be completely free and, in addition to football’s biggest names, will bring together music stars, influencers, and renowned artists to celebrate sport’s extraordinary ability to inspire and transform.