The strangest pre-season football friendlies - in pictures

  • Plymouth's Barry Hayler, left, is challenged by Real Madrid's Gutierrez during their pre-season friendly match at Kapfenberg, in Austria's southern province of Styria on July 21, 2006. Reuters
    Plymouth's Barry Hayler, left, is challenged by Real Madrid's Gutierrez during their pre-season friendly match at Kapfenberg, in Austria's southern province of Styria on July 21, 2006. Reuters
  • Bournemouth's Harry Arter, left, tackles Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the pre-season friendly at the Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth. Getty
    Bournemouth's Harry Arter, left, tackles Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo during the pre-season friendly at the Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth. Getty
  • Kasper Dolberg of Ajax during the friendly against Walsall at the Banks's Stadium on July 19, 2018. Getty
    Kasper Dolberg of Ajax during the friendly against Walsall at the Banks's Stadium on July 19, 2018. Getty
  • Eljero Elia of Juventus prepares to shoot as he is closed down by Mike Edwards of Notts County during the pre-season friendly on September 8, 2011, in Turin, Italy. Getty
    Eljero Elia of Juventus prepares to shoot as he is closed down by Mike Edwards of Notts County during the pre-season friendly on September 8, 2011, in Turin, Italy. Getty
  • Accrington Stanley players celebrate scoring in a friendly against Marseille in 2019. Photo: Accrington Stanley / Twitter
    Accrington Stanley players celebrate scoring in a friendly against Marseille in 2019. Photo: Accrington Stanley / Twitter
  • Lionel Messi scores for Barcelona during the pre-season friendly against Hibernian at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Getty
    Lionel Messi scores for Barcelona during the pre-season friendly against Hibernian at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Getty
  • Tom Greaves of FC United takes a shot during the friendly against Benfica at Broadhurst Park on May 29, 2015, in Moston, England. Getty
    Tom Greaves of FC United takes a shot during the friendly against Benfica at Broadhurst Park on May 29, 2015, in Moston, England. Getty
  • Exeter City in action against Brazil's Fluminense U23 at Laranjeiras Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 20, 2014. AFP
    Exeter City in action against Brazil's Fluminense U23 at Laranjeiras Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 20, 2014. AFP
  • Chris McKee scored for Linfield against Qatar's national team in 2022. Alamy
    Chris McKee scored for Linfield against Qatar's national team in 2022. Alamy
  • Pontypridd Town players hold a Deportivo La Coruna shirt after their friendlty match. Photo: Pontypridd Town
    Pontypridd Town players hold a Deportivo La Coruna shirt after their friendlty match. Photo: Pontypridd Town