'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Portuguese superstar Deco scored twice while playing a few minutes each for Barcelona and Porto in a star-studded testimonial which included the likes of Leo Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Mark van Bommel and Ricardo Carvalho.
More than 50,000 people gathered in the Do Dragao Stadium in Porto to bid farewell to Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’ in a match between the sides with which he had won the UEFA Champions League (2004 and 2006). Other stars who were due to take part initially but couldn’t make it were Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Jose Mourinho and Carles Puyol.
Former striker, Vanderlei Fernandes Silva, opened the scoring for Porto in the third minute.2004 UEFA Champions League winner Benny McCarthy doubled in the 15th minute through a Deco assist and that it how it remained till half-time.
The man of the moment switched to Catalan colours in the second half as Barcelona brought on big guns Eto’o and Messi. Both Eto’o and Deco scored before Jankauskas restored his side’s lead again.
Eto’o got his second and equalised before Messi, playing at the stadium where he made his Barcelona debut 11 years ago, headed to give the Blaugrana the lead again.
The highlight of the match came when in a bid to restore balance, the former Chelsea, Barcelona and Porto star switched colours again to score a delightful last minute equaliser.
Deco’s first goal:
Deco’s second goal:
This capped off a career which saw the diminutive midfielder win 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 La Liga titles and a Premier League title in addition to his 3 Portuguese league titles.
He won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in 2003-04 and UEFA Best Midfielder awards in 2003–04 and 2005–06.
In addition, he scored in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final against Monaco winning the Man of the Match award in the process.
He was eligible for the Brazilian National Team but never got a call-up instead playing for Portugal after having completed six years of residence.
He ended his international career with 5 goals from 75 appearances.
You can watch the highlights here:
After the match, Messi paid his tribute to the 2003-4 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year:
“Deco deserved this, both as a footballer and as a person. He’s a player I learned a lot from, as did so many other team-mates. There was no way I was going to miss this event”.
Jose Mourinho, who couldn’t attend the event sent a video:
Deco thanked Barcelona for the testimonial and praised Leo Messi saying
“Leo is the player in Barça history. When a team doesn’t win, it’s always the best players who get singled out for blame, but nobody should forget all that he’s done for the club. Barça are looking very strong and I love the signing of Luis Suárez. He’s a hard working striker with so much personality and who scores goals”.
Overwhelmed with the admiration he got from his peers, he said: "Winning titles is nice, but the respect and admiration is fantastic."
He singled out Ronaldinho as the best player he had played with : “I enjoy all the players. Messi, Cristiano, but Ronaldinho has had incredible moments.”
