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Portugal's footballing great Luis Figo scored a unique bicycle goal in an out-of-this-world football game which was played at an altitude of 20,230 ft (6166.1 m) in zero gravity conditions, taking the sport to new heights. The event was titled ‘Highest Altitude Game of Football (Soccer) on a Parabolic Flight’, which was organised by Mastercard.
For this fixture, Figo teamed up with football icons from the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. The match was played on a 75-square metre pitch specifically set inside the aircraft where the former Real Madrid Galactico rose up and twirled himself in zero-gravity to score the ball with an acrobatic finish. With this game, Mastercard also set a new Guinness World Record.
Reacting to this outlandish experience, Figo said, “Football transcends boundaries and unites people around the world. I have played in stadiums where the electric atmosphere sparks emotions that cuts across cultures and nationalities; this was the exact same experience I had playing this beautiful game at 20,000 feet above the ground with a group of fearless football fanatics taking their passion for the sport to unprecedented heights.”
Similarly, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Mastercard, Raja Rajamannar, also addressed how with this initiative they wanted to take football to new heights. He said, “Football is not just a game – as the world’s most popular sport, it is a celebration of the human spirit, igniting passion and pride for millions every day.”
“This is a historic moment for Mastercard as we take the world’s love for the sport to extraordinary new heights. What better way to recognize the beautiful game than by creating an out-of-this-world priceless surprise as we continue to connect people to their passions”, he further added.