Roberto Baggio Returns To Football
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Football legend Roberto Baggio will make his return to the pitch for the first time since hanging up his boots in 2004 for the 'Tutti per Borgonovo' charity match for former Fiorentina and Milan striker Stefano Borgonovo who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Baggio played alongside the striker during the late 1980's when they were both at Fiorentina. Both players enjoyed different careers.
Sadly, Borgonovo fell ill and he was diagnosed with a form of SLA, a disease which begans to affect muscles leading to a deteriation in movement and, eventually, to whole paralysis.
Baggio is one of the many stars who will feature later tonight and he has explained why he has come out of retirement to show solidarity for his former team mate.
"Everyone knows I love the Viola jersey," Baggio told La Nazione.
"I have come back to this stadium and to the pitch for Stefano, he has brought me here."
Milan and Fiorentina organised the game and proceeds will go towards Borgonovo's charity which helps raise funds to further research to find a cure for the illness.
A number of current and former stars will take part. Seedorf and Ronaldinho will play, as will Ruud Gullit, Demetrio Albertini, Franco Baresi and Marco Van Basten amongst others.
Borgonovo is in Florence and, although he will not play a part in the match, he will be taken and paraded around the stadium by his children before Baggio gets proceedings underway. -
The Divine Ponytail... I think he is the best player ever to have come out of Italy...
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Highlights of match: