To mark the first anniversary of Pelé’s death, the city of Rio de Janeiro dressed Christ the Redeemer of Corcovado in the jersey of the Brazilian football legend. A choice that has caused a lot of discussion.
On December 29, 2022, Edson Arentes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, died. A true legend of world football, the former Brazilian team striker left an indelible mark on the history of his sport, notably winning three World Cups (1958, 192 and 1970), a performance never equaled since. Having passed away at the age of 82, Pelé remains in everyone’s memories and in Brazil, multiple tributes have been paid to him. This was the case in Rio de Janeiro, where the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer is located, placed at the top of Corcovado. An illumination adorned this statue with a Brazilian jersey adorned with the number 10. But the initiative did not benefit everyone.
When the news was broadcast on social networks, many Internet users questioned this choice to have a religious statue wear a football jersey. “ I can’t decide if it’s good or not. It is the emblem of the city, but it is also a statue of Christ wearing a football jersey. I don’t know if it’s really a good move on their part. “, for example explained this Twittos. Less measured, another spoke of “ blasphemy “. If a more caustic tone, a third commented: “ I knew that football was the first religion in Brazil, I didn’t know to what extent! »
The Cristo Redentor, in the Cerro del Corcovado, was illuminated in honor of Pelé, in its first birthday.
FOTOS: https://t.co/L0dlfyf2zy pic.twitter.com/fRWhOKSGt6
— CANCHA (@reformacancha) December 30, 2023
“What an aberration”
In Brazil, opinions were sometimes much more decided: “ What an aberration. What does Jesus have to do with Pele? Let them do this with a statue of Pele, not that of our Lord. » But even if many expressed their rejection of the initiative, many also appreciated the tribute. Last year, the day after the footballer’s death, the statue of Christ the Redeemer had already been illuminated in the colors of Brazil, but in a much more sober way. This time, the tribute divided observers.
