LA REPUBBLICA (Italy)
LECCE – Though Barcelona has “King Lionel Messi”, this week the Italian city of Lecce is rolling out the red carpet for Iya Traore ("The Prince of Paris") and Abdellah ("Amsterdam’s Maradona") to show off their tricky soccer skills at the Red Bull Street Style soccer world championship.
Held in São Paulo in 2008 and Cape Town in 2010, the third edition of the freestyle soccer world championship final is taking place in the southern Italian town through Saturday.
The rules: 3 minutes, 2 players, 1 ball. Teams will be rated by a five-member jury from the world of soccer and breakdance.
Get ready for plenty of mind-blowing flicks, tricks and spins by some of the most gifted players in the world. Note that a special ball was designed for the event and 2006 FIFA World Cup champions Filippo Inzaghi and Fabio Cannavaro are expected to join the event.
