Real Madrid football legends Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Santamaria and Amancio teamed up with their latter day counterparts, including David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Raúl and Ronaldo at the equally legendary Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary.

The past and present stars were in Budapest for a celebrated football match between today’s Real Madrid team and a Hungarian ‘All Stars’ Ferenc Puskás side, in homage to the mythical Hungarian and Real Madrid football star, who turned 75 last April. The match was played on 14 August at Budapest’s Puskás Ferenc Stadium.

A brainchild of the Hungarian FA, the venture was warmly welcomed by both the Spanish FA and Real Madrid. The match, watched by over 50,000 fans was played in a friendly but competitive spirit. Prior to kick-off by German referee Markus Merk, the crowd was regaled with an emotional scoreboard presentation of some of the old master’s magical moments throughout his illustrious career with both country and club. A standing ovation followed.

Real Madrid’s stars soon left their imprint on the match, with goals from Zidane, Ronaldo and Owen sealing the match for the Spanish club. Krisztian Kenesi scored a consolation goal for the motivated Hungarian side, which was under the guidance of former German international and Hungary’s national team coach Lothar Matthaeus.

During an after-match gala dinner in the beautifully restored baroque style Grand Ballroom of the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Mrs Puskás, on behalf of her ailing husband, received a silver trophy presented to Puskás at the request of Spanish President Florentino Pérez, and an award from the Hungarian State handed over by Péter Kiss, minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, voted ‘Best Five-Star Hotel in Budapest’ and a member of the ‘Most Famous Hotels of the World’, provides the highest level of hotel comforts, with 414 luxuriously designed rooms and the largest state-of-the-art conference and exhibition centre in any five-star hotel in Hungary. The Royal’s most spectacular feature is the beautifully restored and richly adorned 19th century grand ballroom.

The hotel is owned by the Malta-based International Hotel Investments plc and managed by Corinthia Hotels International, operators of 20 four and five star city and resort hotels in Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Libya, Malta, Portugal, Russia, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia and Turkey.