# From playing against Messi & Ronaldo to non-league

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/from-playing-against-messi-ronaldo-to-non-league/
- Published: 2026-11-06T06:42:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T07:20:47+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cw054d7nmndzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sport

## Key points

- Fernando Forestieri has joined sixth-tier Oxford City aged 36.
- He has played alongside Messi, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic.
- Oxford aim for an FA Cup upset against Leicester.

## Summary

Fernando Forestieri, who has played in Italy and Spain’s top divisions alongside Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has joined sixth-tier Oxford City at 36. His move brings a well-travelled former Watford and Sheffield Wednesday forward to a club hoping he can help inspire an FA Cup upset against Leicester City.

Forestieri made his Oxford debut in front of 873 supporters, coming on in a 3-0 win at Hebburn Town that left the Hoops third in National League North after 11 matches. He grew up in Rosario, moved to Italy aged 16 and later played in England, Malaysia and Cyprus; he says he returned to England after the birth of his third son. Oxford host Leicester in the FA Cup first round, with Forestieri pointing to the competition’s potential for surprises.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.