Xavi Hernandez, the former manager of Barcelona, recently made a memorable comeback to the football field at the FIFA Legends Match in Monterrey, Mexico.
As a component of the FIFA and 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee’s program, Xavi put on his football boots once more and relived his playing days at this occasion.
Along with other worldwide football legends, he played for an international team that had some of the greatest names in the history of the game, including his lifelong friend and former Barça colleague, Carles Puyol.
A group of legendary Mexican football players took on the international team, which included players like Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Diego Forlán, Javier Zanetti, and Alessandro Del Piero.
The match itself resulted in a thrilling 3-3 draw that set up a thrilling penalty shootout. Xavi converted one of the penalty shots, which was a crucial part of the win.
Miguel Layun, the lone player out of ten to miss the mark, unfortunately sealed the victory for the international side for Mexico.
But there was more to this reunion of legendary football players than just rivalry. The players spent time in the days preceding the game interacting with members of the community, especially the younger ones, and sharing their expertise and enthusiasm for the sport.
The goal of the event was to inspire and amuse the upcoming generation of football players in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in different cities throughout Mexico.
The actual Legends Match had a star-studded lineup. In addition to Xavi and Puyol, other well-known players that took part were Ricardo Osorio, Juan Carlos Oswaldo Sanchez, Oribe Peralta, Luis Hernandez, Francisco “Maza” Rodriguez, and Julio Cesar.
With the prospect of seeing their old football idols back in action, these names added excitement and nostalgia to the game.
This game provided Xavi with a moment of great personal meaning. Following his resignation as Barcelona’s manager, he was free to.
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