The crown prince: Neymar (Brazil)

Neymar (Brazil)

This stylish attacking player became the most expensive footballer of all time when he moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last summer and has the potential to enjoy as illustrious a career as Messi or Ronaldo. With his powerful dribbling, intelligent play, excellent finishing and captivating style, Neymar has all the qualities needed to be named the best in the world. Having been sorely missed by Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ semi-final against Germany, he led his country to their first-ever gold medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament two years later and will now be determined to lift the World Cup Trophy in Russia.

Ten years of Messi and CR7 – but what’s next?

For the past ten years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have shared the title of The Best FIFA Men's Player between them with five wins apiece, and show no signs of slowing down. The tenth anniversary of this duopoly is a good time to cast a critical eye over the heirs to this particular dynasty. Can one of them even triumph in London in 2018?

Robbie Williams, Aida Garifullina and Ronaldo to brighten up 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony

Ronaldo, Robbie Williams and Aida Garifullina

On 14 June, just a few moments before Russia and Saudi Arabia kick off the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, three international stars will thrill the fans in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. Global music icon Robbie Williams will entertain the stadium crowd and the millions watching around the world, with celebrated Russian soprano Aida Garifullina joining him during the musical extravaganza. The football glory that all players will be hoping to achieve on Russian soil will be represented by Brazil’s two-time FIFA World Cup champion Ronaldo.

“I’m so happy and excited to be going back to Russia for such a unique performance. I’ve done a lot in my career, and opening the FIFA World Cup to 80,000 football fans in the stadium and many millions all over the world is a boyhood dream,” says Robbie Williams. “We’d like to invite football and music fans to party with us in Russia, in the stadium, or to tune in their TVs a little earlier for an unforgettable show.”

The 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony will have a slightly different format compared to previous editions of the tournament. This time, the ceremony will focus on musical acts and will take place much closer to kick-off, just half an hour before the start of the match, which is scheduled for 18:00 (local time). One thing will remain the same, however: the underlying theme of celebrating not only football but also the host country, this time with a touching performance by one of Russia’s most acclaimed young voices, Aida Garifullina.

“I never imagined I would be part of this huge celebration, the World Cup, happening in my own country,” says the soloist from the Vienna State Opera. “And, on 15 July, we will find out for whom this precious dream will come true, back on the same stage, after a month-long festival of football in Russia.”

“The opening match is always a very symbolic one – it is that instant when you realise that the big moment you, as a player or fan, have been waiting for four years has finally arrived. No one knows what will happen in the four weeks of the tournament, but everyone is sure that it will be memorable,” believes ‘o Fenômeno’ Ronaldo. “Of course it is also an emotional one for the hosts. After so much hard work, suddenly the whole world is gathered in your backyard to celebrate their love for football. I felt that in Brazil four years ago and I am now happy to share this excitement with the Russians as well.”

Russia’s Channel One will produce the show, and the creative concept will once again be developed by Felix Mikhailov, who directed the main ceremonies held throughout the entire 2018 FIFA World Cup journey – from the Preliminary Draw in 2015 right up to the closing act ahead of the final on 15 July.

FIFA Fan Fest and kick off the festival of football in Russia

FIFA Fan Fest and kick off the festival of football in Moscow, Russia.

According to the local organisers, around 25,000 people visited Moscow’s FIFA Fan Fest™ on its opening day (10.06), when fans were thrilled by the vibrant music line-up and the presence of French FIFA World Cup™ champion Marcel Desailly and Russia’s all-time top scorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The FIFA Fan Fest Ambassadors took to the stage to greet the crowd together with Moscow’s Head of Sports Department and Tourism Nikolay Gulyaev and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Official Mascot Zabivaka. They were joined by none other than the embodiment of the dream of the 32 teams competing in the tournament from 14 June: the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy.

“It’s amazing to see so many people here today, having fun and celebrating the World Cup in such a nice venue for free,” said Desailly. “The excitement is already immense and will only increase over the next few days ahead of the Opening Match. Having seen this, however, we can already say that Russia has got off on the right foot.”

“I am very proud that our country will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” added Kerzhakov when leaving the stage yesterday. “Now, with just four days to go, you can already feel the football atmosphere, and today's event demonstrated our fans’ tremendous interest in the tournament once more. I am sure the stadiums will be full and Russians will celebrate at the FIFA Fan Fests with fans from all over the world.”