Juliano Belletti to accompany FIFA trophy to Kenya

Former Barcelona and Chelsea right back Brazilian international Juliano Haus Belletti will be in Kenya on 26 and 27 May. 

Coca-Cola in partnership with FIFA have announced Belletti as the FIFA World Cup trophy tour ambassador that will be accompanying the trophy in its tour to Kenya. 

Belletti is the current assistant manager for Cruzeiro, a Brazilian sports club based in Belo Horizonte where he spent his youth career as a player. 

“We are very excited to not only host the FIFA World Cup™ trophy but also one of the greatest footballers of all time and a football legend who played for key teams in Europe. Juliano is no doubt among the world-renowned players and football fans in Kenya can brace themselves for an experience of a lifetime when the trophy lands on the 26th of this month” Said Isabel Kariuki, Frontline Marketing Director, East and Central Africa Franchise.

“By bringing Belletti here together with the trophy, we are hoping to inspire the next generation of footballers and hope that they can learn from his experience” she added.

The Brazilian legend began his football career in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A with Cruzeiro, São Paulo and Atlético Mineiro, being awarded the Silver Ball by Placar for his performances on loan during the 1999 season. 

He is credited for his only goal for Barcelona that won them the UEFA Champions League in 2006 after which he then returned to Brazil, winning the national league with Fluminense in 2010. He earned 23 caps for Brazil from 2001 to 2005, scoring once. 

He was part of the teams that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup and competed at the 2001 Copa América and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.

He is expected to participate in various activities during the two days he will be in Kenya before departing with the trophy on 28 May.

'They told me I was leaving a day before the game'