Farewell to Football: Aldo De Nigris Takes a Final Bow in Monterrey

In front of 53,482 spectators who filled Monterrey's stadium, Aldo enjoyed his definitive farewell to football, being applauded and taking the "Ole, ole, ole, Aldo, Aldo, Aldo" chant in his heart, with the Rayados fans standing in the stands.

Rayados Champion, led by Víctor Manuel Vucetich, took the field with number 9 on the backs of all their players, while Friends of Aldo, whose coach was Antonio Mohamed, wore number 11 on their shirts.

There was a dream forward line in the Rayados Champion team. Aldo de Nigris, Humberto Suazo, Guillermo Franco, and Mario Souza Mota "Bahia", champions of '86, 2003, and the golden era, made fantastic plays that lifted the applause of the fans at all times.

Just a minute into the game, the score opened. Aldo entered the box and provided a pass to "Guille" Franco, who only had to push the ball in for Rayados Champion's 1-0, triggering more than 53 thousand spectators to chant "ole, ole, ole, Guille, Guille" that had been heard so many nights at the Technological Stadium.

The first warning from Friends of Aldo came from the boots of "Diablo" Nuñez, who headed a cross from Joel Morales, but Juan de Dios Ibarra flew to his left and prevented the goal.

While the traditional cheerleader war could be heard in the stands, the 2-0 fell in the 23rd minute and it had to come from the celebrated player.

After a great combination play with "Chupete" Suazo, De Nigris scored his goal and went to celebrate in the right corner, lifting his shirt and revealing an image of his brother Antonio underneath as a tribute to the great "Tano", who was surely applauding him from heaven.

Friends of Aldo pressed on and in the 33rd minute, Juan de Dios Ibarra once again saved his goal from a left-footed shot from the "Diablo" who desperately sought his goal.

The reward came in the 43rd minute when, in a combination play with Osvaldo Martínez, Braulio Luna scored a low left-footed shot that the goalkeeper from Monterrey couldn't stop, making it 2-1.

During halftime, the group La Leyenda took the stage and brought flavor to the night. Many changes were expected for both teams in the second half, including another legend from '86, Francisco Javier "Abuelo" Cruz.

With Cuauhtémoc Blanco now leading the actions, Friends of Aldo started to slow down the game, and in the 49th minute, Fabián "Ruso" Peña equalized with a beautiful long-range goal that beat Ibarra.

Both teams had their opportunities to take the lead, but Hector Mancilla and Cuauhtémoc Blanco were not accurate on one side, while Aldo De Nigris came close on the other.

In the 71st minute, "Chupete" Suazo earned a penalty that referee Francisco Chacon bought, and although the crowd demanded that the Chilean take it, it was Aldo De Nigris who stepped up to make it 3-2 just a minute later.

Eight minutes from the end, Rayados Champion sealed the victory with a fantastic goal from "Cherokee" Pérez after a great combination play with Humberto Suazo, making it 4-2. It was the last action of "Chupete" who made way for Héctor Becerra and was bid farewell with thunderous applause and chants of "ole, ole, ole, Suazo, Suazo!" and "Chupete, Chupete, Chupete!"

Still, with a minute left in the game, another penalty was awarded, this time to Aldo from "Ruso" Peña, and here came the best moment of the night in a gesture that will go down in history.

Aldo De Nigris left the field applauded by the crowd and his place was taken by his son, Aldo Patricio De Nigris, who took the penalty with his left foot and scored the definitive 5-2. He ran to celebrate in the right corner just like his father, who ran to embrace him in an emotional hug.

In the end, the Albiazul management presented Aldo with a tribute, acknowledging the accomplishments of the Monterrey-born player who won five championships, two league titles, and three Conchampions with the Rayados shirt. He closed the night alongside his family, taking a lap of honor around the Giant of Steel.