Rio de Janeiro (AFP)
The legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, whose official name since 1966 has been "journalist Mario Filho's stadium", could be renamed from that of the living Brazilian football legend, "Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé", known as "King Pelé" ".
The Rio state parliament on Tuesday approved the proposed name change.
The decision now rests with interim governor Claudio Castro, who has 15 days to formalize it.
The name of journalist Mario Filho would be kept for the sports complex surrounding the stadium.
When questioned, the spokespersons for Pelé, 80, considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history, did not react to this announcement immediately.
Inaugurated on June 16, 1950 for the World Cup, the stadium was first the scene in front of nearly 200,000 people of the still vivid trauma of the defeat during the final meeting against the Uruguayan neighbor carrying the Jules Rimet trophy (2- 1).
The "Maracanazo" - which can be translated "the coup du Maracana" - has since established itself in literature.
During the humiliation of Brazil by Germany (7-1) in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup, the meeting was played in Belo Horizonte (south-east).
The Maracana, named after the district of Rio where the stadium is located, consecrated Germany's final victory (1-0) against Argentina.
Today with a capacity of 78,000 seats, it was also the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games.
Pelé, the only player to have won three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), scored the 1,000th goal of his career in 1969, while wearing the colors of Santos FC.
The stadium hosts the meetings of the two famous clubs of Rio, Fluminense and Flamengo, the reigning champion.
© 2021 AFP