Pelé Statue Unveiled Outside Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara
Pelé Statue Unveiled Outside Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara
A 9.5-meter statue of Pelé was unveiled Thursday in Guadalajara’s Plaza Brasil, directly in front of the Jalisco Stadium. The bronze figure honors the Brazilian forward who won one of his three World Cup titles in Mexico in 1970. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus attended the ceremony and described the work as a gift to the state and its visitors.
Pelé died in 2022 at age 82. Brazil played its opening three matches of the 1970 tournament at the Jalisco Stadium before defeating Italy in the final at Estadio Azteca. The same venue also hosted matches during the 1986 World Cup.
Governor Lemus noted that Pelé scored a notable goal at the stadium and said the Brazilian team developed a strong connection with Guadalajara’s public during the 1970 tournament. He added that the statue will serve as a landmark for fans arriving at the ground.
Guadalajara is scheduled to host four group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup: South Korea versus Czech Republic on 12 June, Mexico versus South Korea on 18 June, Colombia versus Congo on 23 June, and Uruguay versus Spain on 26 June.
