Portugal Legends Dominate World Legends in Charity Showdown
In a festive atmosphere at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, the Portugal Legends delivered a commanding performance to secure a 4-1 victory over the World Legends in a charity match that combined nostalgia, star power, and sporting passion.
The home side wasted no time entertaining their fans. Just 15 minutes in, former Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux striker Pedro Pauleta opened the scoring with a composed finish. On the stroke of halftime, ex-Tottenham and Porto forward Hélder Postiga doubled the lead with a well-placed strike.
The World Legends, managed on the touchline by Brazilian icon Roberto Carlos, pulled one back shortly after the break, as England's own Michael Owen found the net in the 48th minute to ignite hope for the visitors.
But the comeback was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Portugal's captain and former Ballon d'Or winner Luís Figo restored the two-goal cushion with a signature effort, much to the delight of the Lisbon crowd. The rout was completed in the 73rd minute when defender Pepe – still active with FC Porto – powered home the fourth goal, underlining Portugal's dominance.
Adding a unique twist to the event, Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk made a brief cameo for the World Legends. The current heavyweight titleholder replaced Swedish legend Henrik Larsson in the 22nd minute, bringing a touch of pugilistic flair to the pitch, before making way for former France international Youri Djorkaeff just before halftime.
