Afterward, the teams boarded a boat for a scenic canal tour through Amsterdam. As the boat glided through the city, the legends shared fond memories. Once the canal tour concluded, team buses were ready to transport the squads to the stage of the Gala Match: the Johan Cruyff ArenA. Upon arrival, the players and staff were greeted with a warm reception and made their way down a red carpet to the dressing rooms, which had been specially styled in Gala Match branding.
About thirty minutes before kickoff, the players took to the pitch to warm up. Following their preparations and a few brief interviews, it was time to bid farewell to former Ajax star Daley Blind. Blind addressed the crowd with heartfelt words, saying, "For me, this is certainly not goodbye, but see you later." Shortly after, Ajax Legends’ coach Louis van Gaal was honoured with the title of honorary member of the club. In response, the iconic coach said, "You are amazing."
With the celebrations complete, the charity match kicked off. Though the game started quietly, Ryan Babel stood out as Ajax’s most dangerous player. Ten minutes in, he tested goalkeeper Iker Casillas but couldn’t find the net. By the 30th minute, the game began to open up. Jari Litmanen had a golden opportunity to make it 1-0, but Casillas was once again up to the task.
#StayStrongAppie
In the 34th minute, the Johan Cruyff ArenA erupted in a heartwarming moment as fans gave Abdelhak Nouri a standing ovation. The message #StayStrongAppie appeared on the advertising boards, and Nouri's family received the tribute with immense gratitude, as shown on the stadium’s screens.
Just before halftime, Ajax finally broke the deadlock. Ryan Babel provided the assist, and Shota Arveladze slotted home to make it 1-0.
After various halftime performances, the match resumed. The Real Madrid Legends dominated much of the second half, but substitute goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg made a series of impressive saves to deny the Spanish side. Late in the game, Ajax Legends created several chances, with Simon Tahamata and Ricardo van Rhijn coming close. Siem de Jong eventually doubled Ajax's lead, making it 2-0.
In the dying moments of the game, Real Madrid Legends pulled one back through Ruben de la Red, bringing the final score to 2-1. Shortly after, the referee blew the final whistle, securing victory for the Ajax Legends.
The day concluded with a celebratory dinner in Amsterdam, where the legends reflected on a memorable event both on and off the pitch.
