SAO PAULO — A jacket once worn by football icon Pelé during the 1966 World Cup has gained immense popularity among fans of pop star Bad Bunny. The singer borrowed the jacket from a collector’s sports merchandise store for his recent performances in São Paulo, marking his debut concerts in Brazil.
As part of his homage to the three-time World Cup champion, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 82, Bad Bunny modified the lyrics of his song “Monaco.” He sang about “scoring a goal after Pelé and Maradona,” shifting the reference from “after Messi and Maradona.”
Cássio Brandão, the owner of Alambrado Futebol e Cultura, specializes in historical football memorabilia and boasts a collection of over 7,000 items, including 115 that belong to Pelé. He played a significant role in helping Bad Bunny choose the jacket.
“He took excellent care of the piece. It returned just a bit sweaty, but in perfect condition, exactly as it was. They were very cautious with it. It came back in the same suitcase,” Brandão remarked.
Pelé’s official Instagram account later expressed gratitude to Bad Bunny for the tribute, stating that when an artist like him honors “the King on Brazilian soil, it signifies that the crown remains radiant.”
“It warms my heart to see Bad Bunny doing this today. I hope many kids across Brazil and around the world are going to YouTube to learn about Pelé, watch his goals, and appreciate the significance and greatness of this incredible figure, the greatest football player in history and, in my opinion, the greatest Brazilian ever,” said Brandão.