Lisbon to welcome football greats for landmark charity match

This September in Lisbon, on the eve of SBC Summit 2025, football royalty will gather for the Legends Charity Game, a landmark match supported by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and driven by a mission to raise more than €1m for communities affected by war, poverty, and crisis.

EGR: For those hearing about it for the first time, what is the Legends Charity Game?

Rasmus Sojmark (RS): A squad of Portugal’s greatest football icons will take on a lineup of legendary players from around the world. These are the players who inspired millions and made us fall in love with the game. The match will bring 60,000 fans, and millions more will watch around the world.

Our goal is to raise more than €1m for four charities: the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, which continues to support people affected by the war; the Portuguese Red Cross, helping communities in need locally; International Alert, which works to build peace and protect lives in conflict zones; and Caritas Portugal, which provides shelter and dignity to vulnerable families.

We have worked hard to make it special because we believe in it. The players believe in it too. It will be something worth remembering.

EGR: How did the concept for the Legends Charity Game come about?

RS: Football has been in my blood since I was five. I played the game obsessively, on muddy pitches and in my head through Championship Manager. If someone had told me that kid would one day organise a real-life match with these legends, I would have laughed in disbelief. But here we are.

At SBC and Sport Global, over the years, we have brought a long list of legends into the world of SBC Events. From Gaizka Mendieta in the SBC Football Championship to Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly and Clarence Seedorf hosting our awards; to keynotes from Luís Figo, Franco Baresi, and Peter Schmeichel, and visits from Cafu and Ronaldinho.

This game is the natural next step, and a much bigger one. It is about football, but above all, it is about giving back in a world that needs more solidarity.

EGR: Which football legends can fans expect to see?

RS: For the Portugal Legends, expect names like Figo, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Simão, Maniche, Fábio Coentrão, Vitor Baia, Nuno Gomes and Hélder Postiga. Many were part of the iconic Euro 2004 squad and will now face Georgios Karagounis, captain of the Greek team that beat them in that final.

For the World Legends, Peter Schmeichel will manage, with Diego Lugano as assistant. In goal: Edwin van der Sar. In defence: Cafu, Marco Materazzi, Javier Zanetti, Christian Karembeu, Patrice Evra and Carles Puyol. The midfield boasts Marek Hamšík, my dear friend Gaizka Mendieta, Youri Djorkaeff, Gheorghe Hagi, Krassimir Balakov and the incomparable Kaka. Up front: Henrik Larsson, Javier Saviola, Michael Owen and Alessandro Del Piero.

It’s a truly fantastic lineup.

EGR: How did you decide on the €1m goal and the four charities, and what opportunities are there for people to support the cause?

RS: We wanted a goal that was bold but still achievable, something that would make a real difference. The four charities connect both globally and locally, reflecting our responsibility to stand with those facing hardship. Supporting them is our way of turning a shared love for football into a genuine force for good.

The match will be televised and streamed with Champions League-quality production. Fans can join us in Lisbon by buying a ticket or even support remotely by tuning in, donating online*, sharing the event, or joining the halftime charity raffle.

EGR: How does this connect to SBC Summit 2025?

RS: SBC Summit will bring 30,000 people from the industry to Lisbon, and this is a great way to open the event with heart before the panels, networking and business mindset take over. It is not limited to our industry though. Anyone with a ticket can join us to see the legends and support a great cause.

On Tuesday, 16 September, many of these players will be live on the Super Stage at the MEO Arena for a Q&A hosted by Kirsty Gallacher, giving fans the chance to ask them questions. Cafu will have a book signing, Schmeichel will host the SBC Awards and there will be more moments like that throughout the week.

EGR: Why is football a powerful medium for causes like this, and could it become an annual tradition?

RS: Football brings strangers together and stirs emotions in a way few other things can. When legends take to the pitch, people pay attention. If that attention can be used to raise funds for important causes, the effect is even greater.

The Legends Charity Game appeals across generations. Younger fans may know these players from YouTube clips or EA Sports FC, while older fans remember watching their greatest moments live. This match connects those worlds.

As for the future, absolutely, it will become a tradition. With Portugal set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, our goal is to make this an annual fixture in Lisbon.

*Sport Global Charitable Foundation is a restricted fund under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund (UK registered charity with charity number 1099682).

Rasmus Sojmark is the CEO and founder of SBC, which he launched in 2009 to connect leaders in the betting and gaming sectors.

Under his leadership, SBC has grown into a global events and media business, including the flagship SBC Summit. He is also the organiser of the Legends Charity Match, bringing football icons together for a good cause