Kochi is about to host football royalty a week before India's men's team does something it's never done before: face Brazil's senior side on the pitch.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi will host an exhibition match between Brazilian and Indian football legends on September 23, organized by Chennai-based Gaammen Sports. Brazil's squad carries genuine star power - Ballon d'Or winners Ronaldinho (2005) and Rivaldo (1999), both of whom were part of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning squad, the last time the country lifted the trophy. Brazil's full squad list also includes fellow World Cup winners Paulo Sergio, Jorginho, Viola, and EdmÍlson.
This Isn't the First Time
The Kochi fixture is actually the second edition of this exhibition series, following a match in Chennai last
year that Brazil Legends won 2-1 - Ricardo Oliveira and Alvito scoring for Brazil, with Bibiano Fernandes getting India's consolation goal. Both Rivaldo and Ronaldinho started that match, and Bibiano returns for this edition as well.
Ronaldinho's Personal History With Kerala
For Ronaldinho specifically, this trip carries an extra layer of history. He last visited Kerala a decade ago, in 2016, when he traveled to Kozhikode as brand ambassador for a football tournament - a trip during which he narrowly escaped a street accident. His return to the state comes with that memory attached, even as the occasion this time is purely footballing.
India's Squad: A Mix of Kerala Pride and Kolkata Club History
India's legends lineup leans heavily on regional pride, with I.M. Vijayan set to play in front of his home crowd alongside fellow Kerala players K.T. Chacko, Jo Paul Ancheri, C.K. Vineeth, and N.P. Pradeep. The squad also draws on Kolkata club history, featuring former East Bengal stars Mehtab Hossain and Muttath Suresh, plus two-time Indian Super League winner Arnab Mondal. One notable absence: former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia does not feature on the list.
The Bigger Picture: A Historic Senior Fixture Is Coming
The Kochi exhibition is being positioned as the buildup act for something much bigger - India's senior men's national team will face Brazil's senior side for the very first time on October 3, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Brazil's promotional push for that fixture has already extended beyond this one match; another Brazil legend, Cafu, has spent recent weeks visiting multiple Indian cities ahead of the friendly.
Full Squads for the Kochi Legends Match
Brazil: Gomes - Jorginho, Gustavo Nery, Elivelton, Pará - Edmilson, Amaral, Souza, Junior, Camanducaia - Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Paulo Sergio, Giovanni, Viola, Ricardo Oliveira, Diogo
India: Subashish Roy, Sandeep Nandi - Suresh Muttath, Debabrata Roy, Ajayan, Arnab Mondal, Mehraj Uddin Wadoo - Bibiano Fernandes, Rino Anto, N.P. Pradeep, Climax Lawrence, Jo Paul Ancheri, Mehtab Hossain, Nelson - I.M. Vijayan, Mohd Rafi, C.K. Vineeth, Ashim Biswas, K.T. Chacko
Match Details
Kick-off is set for 7:30 PM IST. Tickets are available on the District app, ranging from ₹1,125 to ₹9,375 - early bird tickets have already sold out, though seats remain in most other stands.
