GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) – A large bronze statue of soccer great Pele was unveiled Thursday in the Mexican city of Guadalajara to commemorate his accomplishments with the Brazilian national team.
Pele, who Died at the age of 82 2022, 1 out of 3 wins world cup He won the title in Mexico in the 1970 tournament.
“This monument to this great player who played here and scored such great goals is a wonderful gift to the people of Jalisco and all our visitors,” said Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus. “Pelé loved Guadalajara and the Brazilian national team fell in love with Guadalajara because the Mexican people gave it everything in 1970.”
The 9.5-meter (31-foot) tall statue is located in a public square called Plaza Brasil outside the Jalisco Stadium, which hosted matches in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. En route to the 1970 title, Brazil played the first round, quarterfinals, and semifinals at this stadium, defeating Italy in the final at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
“People who visit the Jalisco Stadium will now stop and take pictures, especially this statue depicting a soccer star like Pele, which will become a landmark,” Lemus said. “It’s a great gift for the World Cup.”
The 2026 World Cup will feature four first-round matches in Guadalajara. South Korea vs. Czech Republic on June 12th. Mexico vs. South Korea on June 18th, Colombia vs. Congo on June 23rd, and Uruguay vs. Spain on June 26th.
___
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
