Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho shared the stage with Madonna during a spectacular half-time show at the World Cup 2026 final.
The iconic duo made their entrance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey via a cart, with Madonna taking the spotlight after the first half concluded with a 0-0 draw between Spain and Argentina.
Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have been spotted at multiple matches throughout the tournament, even attending games unrelated to their own national team, after Brazil was eliminated by Norway in the last sixteen.
As they stepped onto the pitch, the enthusiastic crowd cheered warmly, celebrating the pair as past champions of the tournament from 2002.
ITV Sport’s Ian Wright remarked on Ronaldinho’s oversized tracksuit, while social media reactions to the show were mixed.
Wayne Rooney criticized the performance, branding it “crap” during the BBC broadcast, while Gary Neville expressed his enjoyment, with Wright asserting that Burna Boy’s collaboration with Shakira “saved” the show.
Other commentators, like Roy Keane, shared his disappointment, calling the performance “a bit of an anti-climax,” but still found it delightful to see Shakira.
After Madonna’s segment, the show continued with Justin Bieber delivering an acoustic performance of ‘Everything Hallelujah,’ followed by Shakira and Burna Boy performing their World Cup anthem ‘Dai, Dai.’
Chris Martin of Coldplay curated a show that stretched beyond the usual 15-minute interval common for official FIFA matches, lasting an impressive 27 minutes and 19 seconds.
The halftime show has sparked controversy for FIFA, which has changed the tournament’s structure, including hydration breaks that divide each half into two segments, reminiscent of American sports.