FIFA World Cup’s historic Halftime Show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, produced by Global Citizen, and performed by BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and more, showed a bit more than just the global artists. There was something for the football/soccer fans as well as an electrifying performance.
For those who aren’t football/soccer aficionados, many people are confused about who some of the iconic players shown during the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show are. Those who follow the games recognized them instantly, as several players were either part of the show or shown on the giant screens.
Just who are these icons and legends?
Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho Gaúcho
During Madonna’s song segment, she jumps on an off-road vehicle that is driven by former Brazilian football/soccer player Ronaldo Nazário, who is seated beside his fellow Brazilian football/soccer icon, Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Both players are best known for their 2002 World Cup win for Brazil.
Gaúcho, widely known as Ronaldinho or his nickname “O Bruxo” (The Wizard), is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or. He is also the only player to have ever won a World Cup, a Copa América, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores, and a Ballon d’Or. The 46-year-old player initially retired in 2018 but recently announced his return to the field in 2026 with Italian Serie C side Ravenna.
Nazário, widely known as Ronaldo, O Fenômeno, and R9, is also regarded as one of the greatest strikers/complete forwards of all time. He’s been named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and won two Ballon d’Or awards. He retired in 2011.
Erling Haaland
It’s hard to ignore the man and meme of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Norway’s Erling Haaland was shown on the display screen at the end of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra performance beating the drum as his team began doing their iconic rowing – a gesture created by the fans to represent the team and country. He did not film the sequence for the event. It was just old footage of him beating the drum as the team and crowd rowed.
Haaland has gotten a lot of attention not only for being an excellent player who scored seven goals in his debut World Cup but also for his hilarious meme moments. The Norwegian striker currently plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League.
Pelé
Following Shakira and Burna Boy’s performance, a video was shown on the display of the legendary soccer player Pelé giving a speech about “Love,” calling the crowd to say ” Love “three times. This prompted the next and final World Cup halftime performance with PS22, the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Coldplay – and then joined by the rest of the performers.
One cannot ignore the impact of the greatest player of all time, Pelé. The legendary Brazilian football (soccer) player (full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento) was the most successful and popular sports figure of the 20th century, comparable to Michael Jordan in basketball or Babe Ruth in baseball. Pelé was recognized by Guinness World Records for his record-breaking goals during his career in 1956. During his career, he won three FIFA World Cup titles (1958, 1962, and 1970), one of which he won at 17, making him the youngest player to do so. He’s also the first to receive the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. He is known as “The King” of football/soccer and is admired and beloved by many players to this day.
But what makes Pelé so fascinating is his life outside the field as a humanitarian. As Brazil’s national treasure, he worked tirelessly to inspire others and dedicated himself to children’s rights, environmental issues, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and more.
During his 1977 retirement speech, he used his platform to spread a message of love. He says, emotionally, “I am very happy to be here with you in this greatest moment of my life. want to thank you all, every single one of you. I want to take this opportunity to ask you to pay attention to the young of the world, the children, the kids. We need them too much. And I want to ask you because I believe that love is more important than what we can take in life. Everything passes. Please say with me, three times— love! love! love!”
Pelé passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final was played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York, with Spain beating Argentina 1-0.