• Marcelo Lippi, back row third from left, Pele, centre, players and Hublot represnetatives pose for photos at the Match of Friendship event in Dubai. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Marcelo Lippi, back row third from left, Pele, centre, players and Hublot represnetatives pose for photos at the Match of Friendship event in Dubai. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Pele during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Pele during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • From Left: Serginho, Gianluca Zambrotta and Michel Salgado during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    From Left: Serginho, Gianluca Zambrotta and Michel Salgado during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Serginho and Michel Salgado during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Serginho and Michel Salgado during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Spectators watch the Match of Friendship from the stands. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Spectators watch the Match of Friendship from the stands. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Marcel Desailly, left, and Gianluca Zambrotta compete in the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Marcel Desailly, left, and Gianluca Zambrotta compete in the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Marcel Desailly in action during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Marcel Desailly in action during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Goalkeeper Didi makes a save during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Goalkeeper Didi makes a save during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Michel Salgado, centre, on the ball during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Michel Salgado, centre, on the ball during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Michel Salgado takes on Marcel Desailly during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Michel Salgado takes on Marcel Desailly during the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Michel Salgado at the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Michel Salgado at the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
  • Marco Materazzi shakes hands with Robbie Keane and Marcel Desally at the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National
    Marco Materazzi shakes hands with Robbie Keane and Marcel Desally at the Match of Friendship. Anna Nielsen For The National

Football

Pele and Marcello Lippi lead football greats in Match of Friendship in Dubai - in pictures

To mark 60 days until the 2018 Fifa World Cup, Hublot put on the second edition of their football event

The National

December 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Some of the biggest names in football competed in Hublot's Match of Friendship in Dubai in the run-up to the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

With 60 days to go until the tournament in Russia, the two teams, one led by Brazil legend Pele and the other by Italy's World Cup-winning manager Marcello Lippi, competed on a specially constructed pitch at the Dubai Opera Hanging Garden.

Pele's team comprised goalkeeper Dida, a 2002 World Cup winner, former Ireland forward Robbie Keane, former AC Milan and Brazil defender Serginho, former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly, former Real Madrid full-back Michel Salgado, and UAE international Majed Hassan.

On Lippi's team, former Italy internationals Marco Amelia, Marco Materazzi, Gianluca Zambrotta were joined by former Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu and former Saudi Arabia striker Sami Al Jaber.

The match ended an an 11-11 draw.

The National's photographer Anna Nielsen was at the Match of Friendship to capture the action. Scroll through the photo gallery above to check out the best pictures. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

This article was originally published on April 16, 2018.

Dubai