The Puerto Rican superstar celebrated Brazil’s soccer king and saluted salsa legend Willie Colón during historic São Paulo shows.
When Bad Bunny stepped onto the stage in São Paulo last week, fans expected high energy and reggaeton hits.
What they didn’t expect was a powerful tribute to Brazil’s greatest sports hero — woven right into his outfit.
During his second sold-out show at Allianz Parque on Feb. 21, the global superstar wore a jacket once owned by the late soccer legend Pelé.
The piece dates back to the 1966 World Cup in England, making it a rare slice of sports history.
For jersey collector Cássio Brandão, who loaned the item from his archive of more than 7,000 pieces of soccer memorabilia — including 115 items belonging to Pelé — the moment was bigger than fashion.
“It’s a celebration of Brazil,” Brandão told the Associated Press. He shared that the jacket was returned in perfect condition after the concert. “It came back only with sweat,” he said, noting with pride that the team handled it with extreme care.
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, didn’t stop at the wardrobe tribute. While performing his song “Monaco,” he switched up a lyric to honor Pelé, singing, “It’s like scoring a goal after Pelé and Maradona,” replacing the original reference to Lionel Messi. The crowd roared in approval.
Pelé’s official Instagram account later thanked the artist, praising the gesture and calling it a sign of respect for the soccer icon’s legacy. The post highlighted how both music and football connect people across borders and generations.
The night also carried a more somber tone. During the concert, Bad Bunny paused to acknowledge the passing of salsa legend Willie Colón, who died at 75.
Speaking in Spanish, he offered condolences to Colón’s family and honored his lasting impact on Latin music.
The Brazil performances marked Bad Bunny’s first time performing in the country as part of his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour.
Next, he heads to ENGIE Stadium for shows on Feb. 28 and March 1 before continuing on to Tokyo — bringing his music, and meaningful tributes, to even more corners of the world.
