A taste of world football at the Letzigrund: Ronaldinho and Del Piero visit Zurich
Brazilian enthusiasm for the game, Italian footballing flair and a sold-out stadium: on 6 November 2026, the Letzigrund was transformed into a stage for international football history. At the 2026 Zurich All-Star Game, Ronaldinho & Friends took on Del Piero & Friends. 24,000 spectators enjoyed an evening full of surprising moves, big names and little moments that will live on in the memory.
A reunion with the heroes of football’s past
In the stands, Brazilian colours mingled with Italian shirts, whilst on the pitch, world champions from different generations warmed up. Several members of the 2002 Brazilian World Cup-winning team were present, including Ronaldinho, Kleberson and Anderson Polga. They were pitted against, amongst others, the 2006 Italian World Cup winners Vincenzo Iaquinta, Cristian Zaccardo, Massimo Oddo and Simone Barone.
Switzerland was also well represented. With Hakan Yakin and Johan Vonlanthen, two former international players were part of Ronaldinho’s squad. For the Zurich crowd, this created an extraordinary line-up: international football greats and familiar faces from Swiss football history all in the same team.
When former top Swiss referee Massimo Busacca blew the whistle to start the match, the anticipation in the stands was palpable. The spotlight was on the two team captains, Ronaldinho and Alessandro Del Piero, who had thrilled millions of football fans with their extraordinary careers. Now they stood facing each other at the Letzigrund – accompanied by the applause of a crowd that had been eagerly awaiting this special encounter.
Goal for Brazil in their 5–4 victory at the 2026 Zurich All-Star Game. (Photo: Natalie Skorupa, Letzigrund Stadium)
Between masterstrokes and a bitter farewell
Numerous small moments demonstrated that footballing instinct doesn’t simply disappear. Sometimes a feint was enough to leave an opponent running into thin air; at other times, a surprise pass was enough to make the crowd sit up and take notice. Ricardo Quaresma was one of the most eye-catching players and brought pace to the game with his runs.
Alessandro Del Piero provided an unexpected moment. After about half an hour, the former Juventus captain injured his thigh whilst attempting a backheel and had to leave the pitch early. Despite the pain, he waved goodbye to the spectators. Later, even on crutches, he made a point of posing for photos with fans.
At the other end, Ronaldinho remained the crowd favourite. The Brazilian, who was voted World Footballer of the Year in 2004 and 2005, demonstrated time and again why his name is still synonymous with exceptional ball control. In the 78th minute, he converted a penalty to make it 4–3. It was also his final act on the Zurich pitch. Shortly afterwards, Johan Vonlanthen took his place.
A wave in the stands, a real spirit of the game on the pitch
Even away from the goals, the evening took on a life of its own. A La Ola wave swept through the stadium on several occasions. The crowd grew particularly loud during skilful moves, unexpected combinations and dangerous shots on goal. The reactions showed just how instantly football can inspire – even if the pace no longer matches that of earlier Champions League clashes.
Yet this clash was more than just a match between Brazil and Italy. With players such as Djibril Cissé, Diego Costa, Maicon, Antonio Di Natale and Claudio Marchisio, different footballing cultures and career paths came together. What otherwise only coexists side by side in retrospectives, historical footage or old match reports could be seen on the same pitch that evening.
In the end, the scoreboard showed a 5–4 victory for Ronaldinho & Friends. But the final whistle brought to an end, above all, a rare opportunity to see so many familiar faces from international football together at the Letzigrund.
On a November evening, the stadium became a meeting place for different generations of footballers. And perhaps that was precisely what made this match so special: whilst their illustrious careers are now a thing of the past, the fascination with these players remains.
