Drummer boy Ronaldinho signals closure
MOSCOW: Brazil great Ronaldinho was the main attraction in the brief closing ceremony held moments before kick-off to the final at the Luzhniki Stadium here on Sunday.
Russian soprano and soloist Aida Garifullina started the proceedings with a rendition of ‘Moscow never sleeps’ alongside Russian artist DJ Smash.
The ceremony paid tribute to all the 32 participating countries and 11 host cities before American singer Nicky Jam performed the number ‘X’.
Jam was accompanied by Albanian songwriter Era Istrefi and American actor Will Smith as they sang the anthem of the World Cup ‘Live it up’.
Garifullina then returned for a historical Russian folk song, ‘Kalinka’.
Ronaldinho later joined the proceedings on the pitch-side, playing a drum to bring an end to the ceremony. His appearance was met with a giant roar of approval from the 81,000-strong crowd at the stadium.
Like the opening ceremony last month, it was a short, 15-minute affair. Fifa had earlier drawn criticism for scheduling long ceremonies before the opening and final World Cup matches.
With minutes to the start of the final, 2014 Germany World Cupwinning captain Philipp Lahm and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodionova brought the gleaming trophy to the pitch.
Griezmann has scored 10 goals for France in major events. Only three have scored more (Platini 14, Fontaine 13, Henry 12).
Paul Pogba’s goal for France was the first scored from outside the box in a World Cup final since Marco Tardelli for Italy vs Germany in 1982.