Carlos Tevez is preparing to experience the final great night of his history with Boca Juniors. There will be no points or trophy at stake, but La Bombonera could become the stage for one of the most spectacular testimonial matches world soccer has ever seen.
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The Apache's Last Show: Tevez Prepares a Historic Farewell at La Bombonera
Carlos Tevez has reportedly received the green light from Juan Román Riquelme to hold his testimonial match at Boca's stadium. More than 60 international stars could be invited to a celebration that promises to live up to the most emotional nights at the iconic Xeneize ground.
According to reports, Carlitos personally contacted Juan Román Riquelme, the club's current president, with a request that was as special as it was symbolic: to use La Bombonera to formally say goodbye to soccer in front of Boca fans.
Román's response was reportedly brief and emphatic: “La Bombonera is your home.”
A Farewell Still to Come
Tevez played his final professional match in May 2021 and officially announced his retirement a year later. However, he never had the opportunity to bring his career to a definitive close on the field surrounded by the Xeneize faithful.
The Apache won 11 trophies and scored 94 goals in 279 appearances wearing the blue and gold jersey. From the youngster who emerged from Fuerte Apache and made his debut in 2001 to the club icon who returned from Europe to become a champion again, Carlitos built a deeply emotional relationship with Boca.
Now he is preparing the farewell he still had pending. The tribute is being planned for December 2026, with the 19th emerging as a tentative date, although it will depend on the team's competitive schedule.
La Bombonera and Its Unforgettable Farewells
Boca's stadium has already witnessed two testimonial matches that became part of Argentine soccer history.
On November 10, 2001, Diego Armando Maradona brought together a constellation of stars for his final match. Pelé watched the celebration from one of the boxes, while Juan Román Riquelme, Carlos Valderrama, Enzo Francescoli, Hristo Stoichkov, Éric Cantona, Davor Šuker, René Higuita and Lothar Matthäus were among those who took the field.
That afternoon ended with an emotional Diego standing in the middle of the field and delivering a phrase that would resonate across generations: “I made mistakes and paid for them, but the ball is never stained.”
More than two decades later, on June 25, 2023, it was Riquelme's turn to have his final show. Román wore the No. 10 jersey once again in front of a packed La Bombonera and welcomed Lionel Messi as the guest of honor. Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, Javier Mascherano, Pablo Aimar, Lionel Scaloni and Walter Samuel also participated. On the coaching side, Carlos Bianchi, Alfio “Coco” Basile and José Pekerman were involved, along with other figures from different stages of his career.
Tevez could now become the protagonist of the third great farewell for a No. 10 so deeply identified with Boca.
Messi and Cristiano Together?
Organizers are working with a list of around 60 potential guests. The plan would be to create one team featuring friends from soccer and his neighborhood to face a selection of former teammates and international stars.
Carlitos' extraordinary career makes it possible to imagine a guest list that would be difficult to match. He shared the field with Messi for the Argentina National Team and with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. He also played alongside Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Ji-Sung Park, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Ángel Di María and Riquelme himself.
For now, none of those names have been confirmed. However, the possibility of bringing Messi and Cristiano together on the field at La Bombonera is already fueling excitement among fans. Two of the greatest players in history, brought together by a former teammate who earned the respect of both.
Fuerte Apache, Manchester, Turin and Boca
Tevez built a remarkable career: he emerged from one of Buenos Aires' most humble neighborhoods, conquered South America with Boca, became an idol at Corinthians, won the Champions League with Manchester United, crossed the city to wear the Manchester City jersey and rediscovered his best European form at Juventus.
He played in some of the world's most important stadiums, but his story always ended up returning to the same place.
The date, ticket sales and final guest list still need to be confirmed. The stage, however, already seems to be waiting.
Because when Carlitos called to ask to borrow La Bombonera, Román simply reminded him of something Boca fans never forgot: that stadium is his home, too.
