Gallery: They were here

Among the football greats who recently marvelled at Egypt's glories: FIFA's 2003 world's best player, Zidane (left); Real Madrid's midfield superstar, Figo

From top: During A S Roma's visit: Batistuta of Argentina; Cafu, Brazil's back-right

(l-r): Hiero and Raœl of Real Madrid

Italy's Lazio at the foot of the Pyramids. Egypt's Zamalek won the 2003 friendly 2-1

Pelé's passion for Egypt brought him to the country twice. From top: with Egyptian movie star Zebeida Sarwat; with the Ahli junior team; with the junior team of Zamalek.

(l-r) El-Dahshoury Harb, president of the Egyptian Football Association, Egypt's Minister of Youth Alieddin Hilal, Eissa Hayatu, president of the African Football Federation, FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter

(l-r) Platini and Egypt bid file coordinator, Hisham Azmi, during a friendly in Cairo; Italian midfielder Tomasi, A S Roma captain, at the Pyramids