Brazil's iconic Maracana stadium is to be named in honour of the country's legendary footballer Pele.

The move follows a vote by the Rio de Janeiro state legislature to change the venue's name to the Edson Arantes do Nascimento - Rei Pele stadium.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento is the 80-year-old's full name, while Rei means king in Portuguese.

The Rio de Janeiro's state governor must approve the name change before it becomes official.

Pele, who won three World Cups as a player for Brazil, scored his 1,000th goal at the stadium in 1969 when playing for Santos against Vasco da Gama.

The Maracana held the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals, as well as the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics.

More than 200,000 spectators are reported to have been in the stadium to watch Uruguay beat Brazil in the 1950 final, although its capacity is now 78,838.

It was named after Mario Filho, a journalist who lobbied for its construction in the 1940s, but was known as the Maracana after the area in which it is located.

DesignAndBuild:
People who know how to honor their legends. Down here we have Rashidi Yekini's family living in penury, plus a host of others. Apart from Jayjay and Kanu, I can't think of any living or late legend who's doing so well

DesignAndBuild:
People who know how to honor their legends. Down here we have Rashidi Yekini's family living in penury, plus a host of others. Apart from Jayjay and Kanu, I can't think of any living or late legend who's doing so well

Beckham14:
The government through the ministry of sports have done enough for Yekini's.

Do you want them to give the family Nigeria's 2021 budget before you'll be satisfied?

There are zoos and museum centers in the country that can be named after our Legends.

Beckham14:
The government through the ministry of sports have done enough for Yekini's.

Do you want them to give the family Nigeria's 2021 budget before you'll be satisfied?

There are zoos and museum centers in the country that can be named after our Legends.

paulolee:

done what for Him? giving him sick mum peanuts after football fans online cried dt his family are suffering ?
the club he plays for in Portugal always celebrate his remembrance each year bt we dnt even know d date here in Nigeria unless an ex international comes and n make an outcry on dt day before we know dt they is someone like yekini..
incase u dnt know he was d record goal scorer in the history of this country n dt record still stands even after so many popular striker have come n gone..
yekini deserves more n I see nothing having a popular stadium named after him, no b only dose old and corrupt politicians dt looted funds for thier family would have stadiums to their name..

DesignAndBuild:
People who know how to honor their legends. Down here we have Rashidi Yekini's family living in penury, plus a host of others. Apart from Jayjay and Kanu, I can't think of any living or late legend who's doing so well

DesignAndBuild:
People who know how to honor their legends. Down here we have Rashidi Yekini's family living in penury, plus a host of others. Apart from Jayjay and Kanu, I can't think of any living or late legend who's doing so well

DesignAndBuild:
People who know how to honor their legends. Down here we have Rashidi Yekini's family living in penury, plus a host of others. Apart from Jayjay and Kanu, I can't think of any living or late legend who's doing so well