A towering statue of Brazilian football legend Pelé has been unveiled in the Mexican city of Guadalajara ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 9.5-metre-tall monument was revealed on Thursday at Plaza Brazil, a public square outside the historic Jalisco Stadium, which hosted matches during the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.
Pelé, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, died in 2022 at the age of 82. He won three World Cup titles with Brazil national football team, including the 1970 tournament in Mexico.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus said the monument honoured both the player and his connection to the city.
“This monumental figure of this great player, who played here and scored a great goal, is a great gift to the people of Jalisco and to all visitors,” he said.
Lemus added that Pelé and the Brazilian team had developed a strong bond with Guadalajara during the 1970 tournament because of the support they received from local fans.
“Pelé loved Guadalajara, and the Brazilian national team fell in love with it because the Mexican public gave them everything in 1970,” he said.
Brazil played its first-round, quarter-final and semi-final matches at Jalisco Stadium during its successful 1970 World Cup campaign before defeating the Italy national football team in the final at Azteca Stadium.
The governor said the statue was expected to become a landmark for football supporters and visitors attending matches during the next World Cup.
“People who come to the Jalisco Stadium now will stop to take pictures. This statue will be a landmark, especially since it depicts a football star like Pelé,” he said. “It’s a great gift for the World Cup.”
Guadalajara is scheduled to host four group-stage matches during the 2026 tournament. The fixtures include South Korea against the Czech Republic on 12 June, Mexico against South Korea on 18 June, Colombia against Congo on 23 June, and Uruguay against Spain on 26 June.
