Pensioner of 1950 showdown loses final ticket

Uruguayan forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino (C) kicks the ball past Brazilian goalkeeper Moacyr Barbosa to tie the score at 1 during the World Cup final round soccer match between Uruguay and Brazil 16 July 1950 in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
Uruguayan forward Juan Alberto Schiaffino (C) kicks the ball past Brazilian goalkeeper Moacyr Barbosa to tie the score at 1 during the World Cup final round soccer match between Uruguay and Brazil 16 July 1950 in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

A Brazilian pensioner unable to attend the 1950 World Cup trophy match in Rio and donated his carefully preserved ticket to FIFA's museum has now lost his ticket to next Thursday's final.

"I kept a ticket for 64 years; I lost the other inside six hours," said Joedir Belmont, 85, who missed the match because of family illness and eventually donated it to FIFA's football museum.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke rewarded Belmont with two tickets to the final.

"If my tickets aren't handed in they have promised to re-issue them -- they have my name on," he added.