Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero is set to return to football for an exhibition match organised by CONMEBOL – at Inter Miami’s home stadium.
CONMEBOL have released an official statement announcing an all-star exhibition match involving Aguero, who will take to the pitch for the first time since retiring from football due to a heart condition in 2021. A host of other high-profile names have been confirmed as participants alongside the former Argentina and Barcelona striker, including Brazil legend Ronaldinho, Javier Zanetti, Lucio, Maxi Rodriguez and Gonzalo Higuain. The match will be held on December 5, 2023, at the DRV PNK Stadium in Florida, which is the home of Lionel Messi’s club Inter Miami. Tickets for the match went on sale on November 21.
The official statement from CONMEBOL in full reads: “The South American Football Confederation brings together players who became legends of world football in an exhibition match that will be played on December 5 at 8:00 p.m. (local time) at the DRV PNK Stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Ronaldinho, Lucio, Sergio “Kun” Aguero, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Leonardo Ponzio, Javier Zanetti, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Jorge Campos, Luis Hernández, Sebastián “el Loco” Abreu, Carlos Valderrama, Mario Yepes, Iván Zamorano, Marcelo Salas, Justo Villar, Nelson Haedo Valdez, Juan Arango, Claudio Pizarro, Ronald Raldes, Bryan Ruíz, Patricio Urrutia, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Roque Santa Cruz, among other world soccer stars will be part of this great match representing their respective countries.”
The announcement comes just days after confirmation that the final of the Copa America 2024 will be held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 14, which means Messi will only have a short journey ahead of him if Argentina reach the showpiece event. The tournament opener will be held at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on June 20.
Aguero was forced to retire at the age of 33 after experiencing heart problems during a game for Barcelona. He was subsequently fitted with a pacemaker and told that he shouldn’t play football again, but he will be back for the one-off legends game in an an event that is sure to excite fans across America.
