From playing against Messi & Ronaldo to non-league

What the report says

Fernando Forestieri, now 36, is preparing to help non-league Oxford City in their FA Cup first-round match against Leicester City on Friday night, according to BBC Sport. The Argentine forward, who has played in top leagues in Italy and Spain and has shared pitches with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has recently joined Oxford City and made his debut in the sixth tier of English football.

BBC Sport said Forestieri came on in a National League North match at Hebburn Town, where Oxford City were already 3-0 ahead and went on to secure a seventh win in 11 games. He told the broadcaster that the FA Cup gives Oxford City a chance to chase an upset against a club from higher up the English pyramid, and he pointed to Leicester’s drop from Premier League champions a decade ago to their current position in League One as part of the context for the tie.

The article also traced Forestieri’s path from Rosario in Argentina to senior football in Italy, with stops at clubs including Genoa, Malaga, Udinese and Watford. BBC Sport reported that he returned to England after spells in Malaysia and Cyprus, linked up with Oxford City through former Watford contacts, and is balancing playing with coaching badges. Oxford City expect a large crowd for the match, which the club hopes can be a significant moment both financially and competitively.