Ronaldo has asked Brazilian supporters to show Zinedine Zidane the respect he deserves when the former Real Madrid pair feature in the annual Match Against Poverty next month.
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This year’s charity game, which is aimed at rallying the public in the fight against poverty, will take place at Grêmio Arena on December 19.
Ronaldo and Zidane launched the Match Against Poverty with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ten years ago, with each year’s funds supporting specific projects in different countries facing difficult challenges.
The Brazil legend hopes that the home fans give Zidane a good reception for the charity work the Frenchman has done.
He said: “It"s too beautiful of a cause for him [Zidane] to be mistreated.
“The Brazilian people are good hosts, and he was a great player, everyone knows that. Aside from being the ‘torturer" he once was, we all know how to admire his football."
Ronaldo insists there will still be a competitive edge to proceedings despite the charitable nature of the event, with each legend captaining a team.
“There"s a big rivalry. Me and Zidane go for every ball as if it were the last. You"ll see that I"m telling the truth," he added.
“It won"t be a festive match, like those that you see at the end of every year. We tell the players to act serious, play well and play fair."
Ronaldo"s side already includes plenty of Brazilian talents including current internationals Neymar and Lucas Moura, who will line up alongside Romário, Bebeto, Denílson, Juliano Belletti, Serginho and Roque Júnior.
Christian Vieri, Santiago Solari, Deco, Pedro Pauleta, Christian Karembeu, Míchel Salgado and Hidetoshi Nakata are among other former players to have signed up.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, World Cup-winning manager with Brazil in 2002, and Mano Menezes, present boss of the Seleção, will be the team coaches.
