Chinese mainland actor Li Xian made history in the early hours of Monday (June 22, Beijing time) by becoming the first Chinese artist to take part in the pre-match ceremony of a FIFA World Cup match, appearing before Spain's Group H clash against Saudi Arabia, according to Beijing Daily.
However, instead of the traditional center-circle kick-off that many fans had imagined, Li carried the match ball onto the pitch and placed it on a designated pedestal. He then waved to the crowd and posed for photos with the ball, as seen in videos and pictures shared by spectators on social media.
The ceremony, as Adidas — the brand Li endorses — had earlier explained on its social media platforms, involves the guest entering the players' tunnel before the match, accompanied by FIFA officials, carrying the official match ball and placing it on a special stand at the player entrance, taking part in the pre-match formalities including team line-ups and national anthems, and later watching the game from a VIP box.
Shortly before the game, at 11:10 pm on Sunday, Li posted six stadium photos on his Weibo account with the caption: "I'm ready. Are you?"
On Friday, Adidas officially announced Li's appointment as the kick-off guest for the match, presenting him with a certificate of appointment.
Li Xian is a Chinese mainland actor known for starring in "Medical Examiner Dr. Qin" and "Go Go Squid!" among others. He is a brand ambassador for Adidas and has been a long-time fan of both Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, having attended matches at the Bernabéu on multiple occasions.
(Source: China Daily)
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