FORMER York City midfielder Leo Bertos ended the most disappointing season of his professional career by facing World Cup favourites Brazil on Sunday.

Having been released by Rochdale last summer, Bertos was deemed surplus to requirements by the Minstermen and North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough during the course of last season before oncluding his club campaign at Conference North outfit Worksop Town.

But, amazingly, the 24-year-old winger was on the same field as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Co as New Zealand provided the opposition in a 4-0 victory for Brazil during the South Americans' final pre-tournament warm-up match in Geneva.

The All Whites managed to hold Brazil at bay until Ronaldo broke the deadlock on 43 minutes.

Adriano then added a second early in the second half but Brazil only scored their final two goals through Kaka and Juninho in the last four minutes.

Bertos, playing on New Zealand's left wing, struggled to contain Brazil's marauding captain Cafu on the flanks but will have been delighted to just be on the same pitch as the AC Milan legend.

The former Barnsley trainee won his eighth cap in the biggest game of his life, having been named the All Whites' Player of the Series in February's victories over Malaysia.

Those performances have helped earn Bertos, who made six appearances for City between November and January, a move to Australian Hyundai A'-League side Perth Glory.

The game was only New Zealand's second match against Brazil since the 4-0 defeat at 1982's World Cup finals.

After pitting his skills against the latest generation of Brazilian legends, Bertos said: "It's unbelievable. I think they played us because Australia are in their group and they think we are pretty similar.

"New Zealand have only played Brazil twice before and the people back home have been treating the match likes it's our World Cup final."

Brazil's Barcelona magician Ronaldinho is listed as Bertos' favourite player on Perth Glory's official web-site and he relished meeting his idol, adding: "He plays with such freedom and plays every game as if he's playing in his back garden and that's an approach to football I like to take."