50 years ago today one of the most remarkable games of football took place on these shores.
In preparation for the 1974 World Cup in Germany reigning champions Brazil embarked on a nine-game tour of Europe.
As a gesture of friendship and solidarity as the Troubles blighted Northern Ireland at the time, the star-studded Brazilian side included a match against an Ireland XI on their itinerary.
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Whilst the match created excitement amongst fans hoping to get a glimpse of such stars as Rivelino and Jairzinho, it was met with less support amongst the football associations on the island.
As such the team had to play under the banner of Shamrock Rovers and only the Brazilian national anthem and flag were sung and displayed.
It was an occasion to remember at Lansdowne Road as the reigning World Cup winners ran out 4-3 winners in the end, but it was the first time in eight years that any team scored three goals against them.
Martin O'Neill was one of seven Northern Ireland internationals to feature in the game alongside Pat Jennings, David Craig, Allan Hunter, Derek Dougan, Liam O'Kane and Bryan Hamilton.
Reflecting on the game O'Neill said it was a "fantastic honour" to play against Brazil.
"I was an up and coming player at the time with Nottingham Forest," he said.
"I'd had a good Home International series, but it was still a major honour to be picked for this game.
"It was a mixture of Northern Ireland players and Republic of Ireland players, and I was going to be playing in midfield alongside Johnny Giles, who was one of the great players at that time.
"All of this garnered great excitement through Ireland.
"Politically it couldn't be called an Ireland team. There was an all-Ireland rugby team but there wasn't an all-Ireland soccer side, so we had to go under the name of Shamrock Rovers.
"The great Derek Dougan had a big part to play in proceedings getting it organised.
"It was a fantastic honour to be playing against the Brazilian side and a great honour to be picked for the game.
"They had quite a number of players from that fantastic 1970 team, which is considered the best international team of all time.
"Although Pele had retired they still had Rivelino, Jairzinho and Clodoaldo, who was a great midfielder and played in 1970, and I got his shirt at the end of the game.
"It absolutely lived up to the hype...4-3 they beat us.
"They had a fantastic team. There was a young lad called Paulo Cesar who Pele said was going to be his replacement.
"He was a great player in 1973, he didn't have a very good World Cup the following year I must admit, but he scored a wonder goal from a free kick past Pat Jennings.
"To play against that side was fantastic and to play alongside the likes of Johnny Giles was terrific for me."
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