Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung were among a 20,340 crowd able to enjoy the entertainment as billed.
Fans wearing the jerseys of Liverpool, United, Roma and Inter Milan were making their way from Causeway Bay subway station over two hours before the early evening kick-off, while young lovebirds donning Juventus jerseys with Alessandro del Piero’s name on their backs showed who was the object of their affections on a breezy final public holiday before many returned to work.
A prematch lion eye-dotting ceremony drew some light boos for dignitaries including local football association chiefs and Yeung, but there was no room for any further negative sentiment.
Cheers erupted when Del Piero – a World Cup winner in 2006 with Italy – returned some of the locals’ love by laying on an early opener for Rivaldo, who starred in Brazil’s triumph in the 2002 edition.
The 51-year-old Brazilian turned provider, finding another 2006 winner, Totti, whose low drive beat former Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan Chun-yip. Gaizka Mendieta, once of Spain, added a solo goal, and on the stroke of half-time came a second spectacular strike for Rivaldo, finding the top-left corner out of nowhere.
Substitute Leung Chun-pong gave the fans a home goal to cheer soon after the restart, then there were more goals galore, to almost non-stop ovations, as two from David Villa – part of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning side – sandwiched an audacious lob by a 1998 winner with France, Robert Pires.
“We played very well,” Villa said. “They didn’t have a chance to beat us. We will come back for sure and play again.”
Hong Kong rallied when Lee Hong-lim beat Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar, before Christian Annan pulled another back.
Ye it was never about the score, and the 10-goal feast was arguably second to the efforts of the legends afterwards to – unlike Messi – engage with spectators.
Among them were Ricky Tam and Rachelle Lui, a football fan couple in their 80s who skipped the Inter Miami farce.
Lui, who started watching football during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, is more of an Italy fan. “I think the organisers did well with the marketing, asking the world stars to shoot films promoting the event,” she said.
Messi’s Hong Kong no-show: what contract said, when government knew, any refund?
Messi’s Hong Kong no-show: what contract said, when government knew, any refund?
Keith Ng, 45, took his son Morris, a Chelsea and Cristiano Ronaldo fan, though he admitted his son barely knew these stars of yesteryear.
“I am the one who actually wants to watch these stars,” Bayern Munich fan Ng said. “I watched them play growing up, so there were some fond memories.
“It’s nice to have Del Piero and Rivaldo. I also watched the previous match, when Figo was superb, and was lucky to miss the Inter Miami debacle.”
Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre saw it as a success.
“It goes both ways – we enjoyed it,” he said. “I hope we can do it again next year.”
