Leonardo Ponziocaptain and coat of arms of River Plate during the coach’s success cycle Marcello Gallardotomorrow at the stadium he will have his farewell football match Monumental in an exciting evening in which almost all the champions of the Libertadores Cups of 2015 and 2018.

The event will be the exclusive broadcast of the signal Star + and the start is announced for 20:30.

“Leo” Ponzio, born in the Santa Fe city of Las Rosas 40 years ago, will experience his well-deserved farewell match in his time as a footballer from 20:00 at the Núñez club stadium where he reached his best version and participated to one of the best stages of the institute.

The former midfielder has been featured in River’s 14 titles over the past eight years under the leadership of “Muñeco” and this was enough for him to be the most successful in the history of the club, having previously been champion with other DTs such as Diego “Cholo” Simeone, Ramón Ángel Díaz and Matías Almeyda.

His last official match was with a medal since he was present on December 18, 2021 against Colón de Santa Fe for the Champions Trophy, when the millionaire team won by a score of 4-0 when joined by Enzo Fernández, currently in Benfica from Portugal.

Pontius, who suffered from heart complications when he contracted coronavirus in 2020 he was about to leave football last year, but at the express request of Gallardo and his companions he made a special recovery and went away raising a glass.

The “Lion”, as River fans have nicknamed him, he played 358 games and scored 10 goals in the two seasons played from 2007 to 2009 and then from his return in 2012 to play in the promotion of the second half of Nacional B until his retirement.

A race to history

Ponzio wore the River shirt for the first time Daniele Passarella as a coach on 11 February 2007 at the first appointment of the Clausura in the 1-0 victory over Lanús shortly after being bought by the Spanish Real Zaragoza in exchange for 3.5 million dollars.

In those years, fans remember Ponzio’s great match against Boca, who played as a left-back and scored Rodrigo Palacio, in a game that would have ended without problems for 2-0 with the goals of Radamel Falcao and Ariel Ortega.

Throughout that phase Ponzio never managed to establish himself as a point of reference and starter despite his great career in Spain, but he managed to be part of the team that won the title in 2008 even if he missed the final against Olympus because he was expelled.

In 2009, after a series of injuries and without continuity, Pontius returned to Zaragoza after three seasons in that first phase at the River where he played 71 games without managing to win the title of central midfielder.

His return to the club took place in early 2012 along with David Trezeguet to play the second round of Nacional B and wore the shirt again on 5 February 2012 for a 1-1 draw against Almirante Brown with an assist to Fernando Cavenaghi.

After obtaining the promotion, Ponzio became a point of reference for the team led by “Pelado” Almeyda and who managed to return earlier in the darkest sporting phase of the club.

The arrival of Gallardo changed everything

After the departure of Almeyda and the arrival of Ramon Diaz at the club, Ponzio began to lose his place on the squad and although he added many games to the tournament won by River in early 2014, his departure from Núñez’s institute again seemed a given.

With the arrival of Gallardo, Ponzio’s situation changed and he became a point of reference for the team without playing as the owner was Matías Kranevitter, but an injury to Tucuman gave the captain the opportunity and he didn’t. made to escape.

His performances in the 2014 Copa Sudamericana superclassics, particularly in the 0-0 win at the Bombonera, and the situation he went through as one of the hardest hit by the pepper spray attacks in the 2015 Libertadores, confirmed him as a benchmark. .

In any case, River’s great triumph in that cup against Cruzeiro as a guest 3-0, where He was one of the figures of that historical partyput it on the podium of the badges of all the fans.

Ponzio was present in the 5 hand-in-hand eliminations from River to Boca and was also the one who raised the Cup in the Super Cup trophy that the “millionaire” won over the eternal rival in March 2018 in Mendoza 2-0.

Since Gallardo’s arrival, Ponzio has won 7 international titles: 2 Copa Libertadores (2015 and 2018), 3 Recopas Sudamericana (2015, 16 and 19), 1 Copa Sudamericana (2014) and Copa Suruga Bank (2015) and played 2 Club World Cups.

Nationally, the “Capitán” has won 7 Olympic rounds: 3 Argentine Cups (2016, 17 and 19), 2 Argentine Super Cups (2018 and 2019), 1 First Division Tournament (2021) and 1 Trophy of Champions (2021) on the day of his last official match.

Ponzio began his career in by Newell in 2000 he was champion with the Sub 20 of Argentina in 2001 and played nearly 250 games Zaragoza in 10 seasons, even if his career will always be tied to the River and that is why he will have his well-deserved farewell party.

What time is the game and TV

“Eternal Captain” is the slogan chosen for Pontius’s farewell. A farewell party that is announced with a spectacular event for the whole family, with special guests, shows and big surprises. The match will face the winning teams of the Copa Libertadores 2015 and 2018, with the presence of Francescoli, Alonso and Ortega, among other club idols.

In addition, there will be freestyle battles, live bands, fireworks and a championship of penalties, in a night that promises to be unforgettable for Ponzio, the most successful footballer in the history of El Millo.

The broadcast of the event is scheduled for 8:30 pm and will be exclusive to the Star + signal.