The city of Rio de Janeiro once again paid tribute to the legendary Pele, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. This Wednesday, the name change of the metro station located next to Brazil's most famous stadium was made official. It will now be called "King Pele-Maracana Station." The change was approved by a law of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro, which came into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette, thus consolidating a new recognition of the legendary Brazilian striker. The Maracana station now honors "King Pele." With the new name, King Pele-Maracana Station, authorities seek to immortalize the legacy of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who died in December 2022 at the age of 82. The station is one of the busiest on the Rio de Janeiro metro and is part of Line 2. It is also one of the main access points to the historic Maracana Stadium, the scene of countless memorable moments in world football. In addition to the fans who go to the stadium, the station also... It is used daily by students of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and by thousands of residents of the traditional Mangueira neighborhood and favela.

The tribute that reinforces Pele's legacy

The initiative was promoted by regional deputy Rosenverg Reis, who highlighted the importance of recognizing Pele's legacy in Brazilian and world football.

“The new name of the Maracana station further enhances the memory of Pele, the marvelous plays he made in that stadium, and all his contributions to Brazilian football,” the legislator stated.

The change seeks to reinforce the historical connection between Pele and the Maracana, a venue where the Brazilian star starred in some of the most memorable moments of his career.

The Maracana,Scene of Pele's Historic Moments

The legendary Maracana Stadium witnessed several milestones in the career of the so-called "King of Football."

One of the most memorable occurred in November 1969, when the then Santos striker scored the 1,000th goal of his career in that stadium, an event etched in the history of the sport.

Another emblematic moment took place in March 1967, when Pele, then number 10 of the Brazilian national team, produced a spectacular individual play that gave rise to the famous expression "gol de plaque" (plate goal), used in Brazil to describe goals of extraordinary quality.

More Tributes to Pele in Rio de Janeiro

Following Pele's death in December 2022, Brazilian authorities have promoted several tributes to preserve his legacy.

One of them took place in 2023, when the road in front of the stadium was Renamed King Pele Avenue, another tribute to the footballer who marked an era in world sport.

Pele, the only three-time world champion in history

Born in 1940 in Tres Coracoes, in the state of Minas Gerais, Pele became a football legend by winning the World Cups with the Brazilian national team in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

The former footballer passed away in December 2022 due to multiple organ failure caused by colon cancer and other health complications, but his legacy lives on in football and now also in one of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic landmarks.