Ronaldinho, Will Smith shine in closing ceremony
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho and United States actor and musician Will Smith were among the stars rocking the stage on Sunday for the World Cup closing ceremony, ahead of the final match pitting France against Croatia.
The 15-minute show featured several songs, culminating with the official World Cup song “Live it Up” performed by Smith alongside musicians Nicky Jam of the US and Era Istrefi of Kosovo, produced by DJ Diplo, reports Efe.
At one point in the 15-minute ceremony, Ronaldinho surprised the audience by showing up on the field playing a tall, wooden, Afro-Brazilian hand drum known as an atabaque, and was greeted with enthusiasm by the fans inside Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
The ceremony ended with the World Cup being brought into the stadium, carried by Russian model Natalia Vodianova and former Germany captain Philipp Lahm, who led the national team to victory in the 2014 World Cup.
Meanwhile, India President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated France on winning the FIFA World Cup.
France clinched its second World Cup title beating Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.
"Congratulations to the determined players from France for winning the FIFA World Cup! Special wishes to the gallant Croatia team #PresidentKovind," the official Twitter handle of the President posted.
The prime minister also took to Twitter to congratulate France, calling it "an excellent match!"
"Congratulations to France for winning the @FIFAWorldCup. They played wonderfully through the tournament and during the #WorldCupFinal @EmmanuelMacron," Modi said.