The stars will be out in Miami on Saturday night.
The World Soccer Masters takes place at Sun Life Stadium, with a cast of stars from around the world led by Lionel Messi and U.S. national team stars Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Jozy Altidore taking to the field in the exhibition event (7 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).
Coached by Brazilian legend Dunga, Messi's side contains other firepower in the form of former Chelsea striker and UEFA Champions League hero Didier Drogba and Argentine and Napoli standout Ezequiel Lavezzi.
They are opposed by Capello's Masters, a team coached by recent England manager Fabio Capello and one that is slated to field the American trio in addition to Radamel Falcao, Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.
Here are the tentative rosters for Saturday night's match, according to match organizers:
WORLD SOCCER MASTERS ROSTERS
DUNGA'S STARS
GOALKEEPERS: Jose Pinto (Barcelona)
DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Barcelona), Alessandro Nesta (Unattached), Diego Lugano (Paris-St. Germain), Martin DeMechelis (Malaga), Andre Santos (Arsenal)
MIDFIELDERS: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Ariel Ortega (Defensores de Belgrano), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jhon Viafara (Junior de Barranquilla)
FORWARDS: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Jose Salomon Rondon (Malaga)
CAPELLO'S MASTERS
GOALKEEPERS: Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Marco Materazzi (Unattached), Lucio (Inter Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Al-Ahli)
MIDFIELDERS: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), James Rodriguez (Porto)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Diego Forlan (Inter Milan), Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Napoli), Daniel Osvaldo (Roma)
This event seems bizarre – a random collection of talent, an abnormal venue/city, and a very quiet hype.
at it appears Jozy, Los and Deuce are on the “Washington Generals” for this game
Ortega is still alive? i got to watch this game
Oh, it will never equal Free Kick Masters on the bizarre scale.
Just don’t get hurt guys
HAHA! Seriously they seem a bit understaffed for going up vs drogba and messi and co.
Jose Pinto? Barcelona’s backup GK. That makes sense.
Also, I’ve never heard of Viafara.
1. There’s no way tackling is allowed in this game.
2. The night scene in Miami is going to be bananas.
Again what is this?
The only explanation is $$$.
Is this a good idea. Don’t players such as Dempsey and others need a break to recover?
With only one GK each, I wouldn’t expect too much effort between the sticks.
I’m on the side of this being a terrible idea for any player who is still pursuing a professional career. I know it benefits Messi’s foundation, but just send a check, boys.
What is Bocanegra doing there?
So this is a benefit? That fact might be useful to point out in the article, authors!
Relax, guys, this is nothing more than a scrimmage. It will be no more dangerous than an average practice session (actually, probably much less so, since no one is trying to impress a coach/earn a roster spot).
Hopefully our boys can match the flair that Messi and Drogba will undoubtedly show.
Did you hear? To make the game more exciting (ok, bizarre), they are going to use two balls at once.
he’s Jello Biafra’s cousin.
yeah, why the Fk is Dempsey bothering with this?
Thank you. California, Ueber Alles.
I am definitely tuning in if that’s true!
Bigger goals!!! Then the scoreline will be more like REAL football…
Smaller endzones and narrowing of the field goal posts!!! Then the scoreline will be more like REAL futbol…
I want to hear the crowd sing the Clint Dempsey Song.
Teddy Sheringham is not on either roster.
i thought Clint was pulled from the match by ffc?
guess not