Andrea Bocelli and Ronaldo met backstage at the FIFA Countdown Concert, the event that served as a prelude to the World Cup Opening Ceremony. It was an informal and warm-hearted moment featuring two absolute icons of sports and music, bound by mutual respect and a relationship forged during the Brazilian champion’s years in Italy.

During their conversation, Ronaldo joked with the famous Tuscan tenor, referencing one of Bocelli’s most recent meetings with Jannik Sinner. “I’m training in tennis and I saw that you met with Sinner. I was jealous of both of you; I fell in love with both of you,” said O’ Fenomeno with a smile, drawing a laugh from the singer.

Bocelli then returned the compliment to the former Inter and Milan striker, noting that, despite the time spent away from Italy, he continues to speak Italian with great ease. “You still speak Italian well,” the tenor observed. A remark that Ronaldo accepted with pride, replying: “Oh yes, I played eight years in Italy…,” thus recalling one of the most important chapters of his extraordinary soccer career.

The meeting between the two took place on the eve of one of the tournament’s most anticipated events. Andrea Bocelli, in fact, was among the stars of the World Cup Opening Ceremony, where he will perform “DNA,” the event’s official song. The song was created in collaboration with French producer David Guetta and artists Megan Thee Stallion and Ejae, an international project that blends modern sounds with orchestral elements to celebrate the spirit of the competition.