(ANSA) - Star referee Pierluigi Collina is coming out of retirement for a one-off charity match in aid of poor countries.
The bald and imposing figure - voted several times the world's best ref - will officiate at the third edition of the 'match against poverty' starring United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) good-will ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane.
Among the other stars appearing in Dusseldorf on Thursday will be Rivaldo, Phillipe Cocu and Kevin Kuranyi.
Rudi Voeller, Lothar Mattheus, Guus Hiddinck and Mircea Lucescu will alternate as coaches.
The aim of the game is to raise awareness of the UN's goal of halving world poverty by 2015.
Collina, probably the most respected ref in soccer history, hung up his whistle earlier this year after being accused of a conflict of interest involving his sponsor. Before the row, he was widely expected to set a precedent by officiating beyond the retirement age of 45.
He said it was a "reluctant" decision after a glorious 28-year career.
Ironically, the Italian Soccer Federation had recently changed its rules regarding retirement to enable Collina to have one last season in the top-flight Serie A. Collina, voted the world's best soccer official five times, said he had less sleep ahead of his retirement announcement than he did before refereeing the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany.
The news caused dismay in the world of Italian sport and questions were even asked in parliament. Opel is not the first firm to make use of Collina's appeal, which is undoubtedly enhanced by his penetrating gaze and his distinctive bald head, caused by a bout of alopecia at the age of 26.
He has appeared in a number of adverts, including ones for gorgonzola cheese, sports equipment and Japanese octopus hamburgers. What's more, his trim figure and masterful personality have made him a sex symbol for many women. Collina, who is married with two daughters, is a graduate in economics. He is an accomplished linguist too, with good Italian, French, English and Spanish.
In 2003, Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi awarded him the title of 'commendatore' - one of the country's top honours.
