( CNN ) -- As Iran 's relations with the Western world seem to be thawing following a historic U.S. agreement over its nuclear production , sport is also doing its part to bring Tehran in from the cold . AC Milan , the world 's most successful soccer club in terms of trophies won , sent a team stacked full of its former stars to take part in a charity match against counterparts from Persepolis FC . Thursday 's game , watched by 65,000 fans in Persepolis ' Azadi Stadium , was won 3-1 by the seven-time European champion . But as Iran 's nuclear deal will help lift some of the economic sanctions that have hurt its growth , this exhibition has bigger meaning for Persepolis and the development of Iranian football . It is part of a collaboration that began at the end of last year when Persepolis president Mohammad Rouyanian visited Italy to meet with Milan chief executive and V.P . Adriano Galliani . Milan 's website reports that the `` Rossoneri '' ( `` black and reds '' ) will be sharing knowledge of the club 's successful youth academy with Persepolis -- which is Iran 's most successful team and one of the most popular in Asia . `` Mohammad Rouyanian expressed his admiration for the way that the club and its proprietor made Milan the most decorated in the world , '' the website said . `` The desire to create and develop a form of collaboration between the two clubs came naturally . `` Collaboration is already underway that will see the Milan Academy help to export and replicate the Milan Model with Persepolis , which celebrates its 50-year anniversary this year . '' Legendary defender Paolo Maldini headed a star-studded Milan lineup at the 100,000-capacity Azadi Stadium for a match that marked the last Persepolis appearance for former Iran captain Mehdi Mahdavikia . Mahdavikia , 36 , retired this year following a distinguished career in which he appeared at two World Cups -- representing his country 111 times in all -- and spent eight seasons with German club Hamburg . The Milan team also included another of Italy 's defensive greats , Franco Baresi , and his fellow World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso . Its goals came from Daniele Massaro -- part of Italy 's 1982 World Cup-winning squad -- Christian Lantignotti and Stefano Eranio , while Alireza Emamifar scored for Persepolis . `` Thank you to @ acmilan glorie for coming to Iran and putting a smile on the Iranian AC Milan fans : ) '' one supporter wrote on Twitter .
Iranian football fans welcome AC Milan to Tehran for charity match against Tehran . The match is part of a collaboration between the two clubs , both in Europe and Asia . Persepolis hoping to learn from Milan 's highly - regarded youth academy . Milan 's team of former stars defeated their counterparts 3 - 1 in front of a crowd .