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Join us for the live coverage of Pepito Day, Giuseppe Rossi’s farewell match at the Stadio Franchi alongside several football legends, including Daniele De Rossi and Gabriel Omar Batistuta.
It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT) at the Stadio Franchi.
Several football legends and Rossi’s ex-teammates will take to the pitch at the Stadio Franchi.
Throughout his career, Rossi made 363 club appearances and scored 132 goals. He represented the Italian national team, earning 30 caps and netting seven goals between 2008 and 2014. Notably, during the 2008 Olympics, he led Italy to the quarterfinals, emerging as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
Rossi’s club career spanned several teams, including Villarreal, Fiorentina, and Manchester United. At Villarreal, he made 136 league appearances, scoring 54 goals. He retired in 2023 and has since founded the Giuseppe Rossi Academy in New Jersey.
Football Italia is among the accredited media at the Stadio Franchi today. Follow the match live below.
That was the last touch in the game. Thanks for following the liveblog!
Enea De Vita scores the last goal of the game! 7-5 for the Pepito team!
Meantime Flachi scores a great solo goal…6-5 Pepito Team.
Rossi subbed off now and he’s nearly in tears: ‘It’s a great emotion, thanks everyone, I love you.’ The entire stadium sings: ‘Il Fenomenoooo.’
Lupoli scores too to make it 5-5.
Pepito close: dribble past a defender to enter the box, but his attempt is inches wide.
What a goal Riganò. Sets himself up with a perfect first touch and finds the net with a curler at the far post from the edge of the box.
Pepito Rossi swaps shirts and enters the pitch for the Pepito team, replacing Josip Ilicic.
Flachi and Arturo Lupoli also introduced during the break.
Christian Riganò was introduced during the break. 62 goals in 101 Fiorentina games in Serie C2, B and A.
Second half begins.
The penalty kick saved by Toldo in the first half.
Some things never change…part two! Toldo saves a penalty🧤
Euro 2000 vibes 🇮🇹⚽ pic.twitter.com/mexGRTrewv
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) March 22, 2025
End of the first half…it’s been entertaining, to say the least! 4-4.
Ilicic and Gomez are BALLERS…a couple of impressive volley passes.
Bati sends it over the crossbar from an excellent position…he can’t believe it!
PEPITO AGAIN!
Counter-attack Toni-Rossi-Batistuta. Frey denies Bati, but Pepito scores on the rebound to make it 4-4.
What a goal! Ilicic makes it 4-3 with a perfect left-foot finish from the edge of the box. A great move from the Pepito Team.
Toldo saves on Senna! Euro 2000 vibes…
Toldo foul on Ilicic. Penalty for Pepito Team!
Pepito hits the crossbar, super Frey save to deny Jorgensen on the rebound!
Chants for Jorgensen now.
Guys, Pizarro is really something…still has an incredible touch…
Some things never change…Batistuta has just scored at the Stadio Franchi 😍💜🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/P2NWm7y82Q
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) March 22, 2025
It didn’t last long! BATISTUTA makes it 3-3!
What a goal MARIO GOMEZ! Fantastic volley at the far post from Candreva’s header assist. 3-2 for Pepito team.
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