25 years since the Centenary game against Brazil

April 28th 1999 was a historic day for all things FC Barcelona. That was the date of a friendly match between FC Barcelona and the Brazil national team at Camp Nou, played as part of the Club's Centenary celebrations. The event was hotly anticipated among the fans. Firstly because the world's best national side was coming to Barcelona, and secondly, because it was a unique occasion to see two great former FC Barcelona players play together, no less than Romário and Ronaldo. Expectation levels grew even more on learning that blaugranes Rivaldo and Giovanni would play for Brazil.

Tribute to 250 former blaugranes

There was a very special prelude to the match. At 8.45pm, 250 former FC Barcelona players went out onto the pitch and the 80,000 members in Camp Nou gave them a well-deserved and emotional ovation. The mammoth task of seeking out all the Barça veterans was hugely successful, with ultimately only 79 being unable to attend such a historic event.

The big game between Barça and Brazil followed the tribute. Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo selected the following team - Rogério Ceni, Zé María (Rogério Fidelis, 69'), Odvan, Scheidt, Roberto Carlos, Conceiçao, Emerson, Amoroso (Giovanni, 68'), Rivaldo, Romário and Ronaldo. Blaugrana coach Louis van Gaal selected Hesp (Arnau, 46'), Reiziger (Nadal, 79'), Abelardo, Frank de Boer, Sergi, Luis Enrique, Guardiola (Xavi, 46'), Cocu (Roger, 64'), Figo, Kluivert (Sonny Anderson, 46') and Zenden.

80.000 members enjoyed a great game

The game was hotly contested and a real spectacle, ending 2-2, with Luis Enrique and Cocu scoring for the home side, and Ronaldo and Rivaldo netting for the visitors. All the same, the result didn't really matter, as this was a night of celebration that brought together the 80,000 members at Camp Nou with all the fans watching live in television in 50 countries. The grandeur of a now centenary Club was there for all to see.

The match was the main event to celebrate 100 years of FC Barcelona, part of celebrations that ran from the inaugural ceremony on 28 November 1998, through to 29 November 1999, when Barça became a centurion. A year of celebrations to show we are more than a Club.