Gheorghe Hagi in action against Italy at Euro 2000 (GrahamChadwick/Allsport)

Hagi marked his departure from competitive international football ten months ago - in typical style - with a red card. But it was his flashes of brilliance that shone through on Tuesday as his Romanian select side took on a World XI.

The fiery forward set up both goals as his team drew 2-2 in front of 60,000 adoring fans after giant screens had reminded the hordes of the brilliance of their living legend.

Hagi's famous left-foot helped make the Romanians a force in world football, led them to the brink of the 1994 World Cup semi-finals and gave the country national pride after the fall of communism.

The Maradona of the Carpathians made his debut for the national side under Mircea Lucescu in a goalless draw with Norway in Oslo, in 1983, after five years in the youth side.

Two years later he was named captain of the national team and during his 125 cap career he went on to guide the Romanians to three consecutive World Cup finals - Italia 90, USA 94 and France 98.

Hagi also represented his country at three European Championships, and eventually bowed out of international football at Euro 2000 when he was sent-off for diving in Romania's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Italy.

Unsurprisingly the 36-year-old holds a hero's status in his native country and he gathered together 10 other national hero's from the 1994 World Cup finals to take on the world in his farewell match.

But despite being Romania's top scorer with 35 goals Hagi failed to hit the back of the net on his swansong.

However, at the end of the emotional 'Gala Hagi' the man himself took a lap of honour around the packed stadium as the crowd chanted his name and plaudits came in from respected football figures around the world.

France legend Michel Platini said: 'All beautiful celebrations are beautiful but this day is a sad one for Romanian soccer.'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter acknowledges the Romanian's Jekyll and Hyde personality: 'Hagi is a touching player. He is a very temperamental player, maybe too much sometimes. But this is an ingredient that makes the difference between a good player and a great one.'

And his Galatasaray team-mate Bulent Korkmaz pointed out the important stature of Hagi, irrespective of goals.

'Galatasaray had nothing to fear with Hagi on the pitch. He is forceful, he gave us confidence, he was born a leader,' he said.

And the Romanians fiery antics have inspired the Turkish club to glory. Yet, as always, got himself into trouble.

At club level Hagi's career will continue, if only short term, after escaping a 6-month ban for spitting at a referee and stamping on his feet during a Turkish Championship match in March.

Fortunately for both team and player the Turkish Soccer Federation only banned Hagi for six matches - a decision that quickly led his agent, Victor Becali, to say: 'We are happy that the decision stops Hagi putting an earlier end than planned to his playing career.'

Last season the midfielder helped the Turkish club lift the UEFA cup with a penalty shoot-out triumph over Premiership club Arsenal, despite (you guessed it) being sent-off in the final.

Another bitter sweet victory in Romania's greatest ever player's career.

Hagi has retired from international football and has already said he will retire from the domestic scene when his contract finishes at the end of this season.

He has had an illustrious career which includes a Romanian record £3.5million move to Real Madrid, a spell in Serie A as captain of Brescia and a return to La Liga with Spanish giants Barcelona.

The Romanian Player of the Century has achieved much in his long career but with Galatasaray smarting from being dumped out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final by Real Madrid and the World Club Championship beckoning in July, Hagi could yet reconsider retirement.

If not then the world super star has already eyed a return home to coach at Steaua Bucharest - with whom he won three national titles, two Romanian cups, the European Super Cup and scored 76 goals - or Farul Constanta - the local team he began his career with in 1974.

A good plan. Yet as always with Hagi there is a twist and interference by the Romanian FA into a clamp down on dubious referees has temporarily poured cold water on that idea.

Following the Romanian Soccer Federation's (FRF) decision to sack an official who tried to crack down on dodgy refs Hagi declared: 'I'll have no contact with the FRF as long as club presidents sit in armchairs (as members of its board) and decide on the major problems of Romanian soccer like refereeing.'