2026 World Cup Halftime Show Features Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Haaland, and Pelé Tribute

The FIFA World Cup's historic Halftime Show — curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, produced by Global Citizen, and featuring performances by BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and others — offered more than just global music acts. Alongside the electrifying performances, there were nods to football icons that delighted dedicated fans.

For those less familiar with the sport, several legendary players were either part of the show or featured on the giant screens. Here is a breakdown of the icons who appeared.

Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho Gaúcho

During Madonna's segment, she jumped onto an off-road vehicle driven by former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo Nazário, who was seated beside fellow Brazilian icon Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Both players are best known for their 2002 World Cup victory with Brazil.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho — widely known as Ronaldinho or by his nickname "O Bruxo" (The Wizard) — is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He has won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or. He is 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 initially retired in 2018 but recently announced his return to the field in 2026 with Italian Serie C side Ravenna.

Ronaldo Nazário — known as Ronaldo, O Fenômeno, and R9 — is regarded as one of the greatest strikers and complete forwards of all time. He has been named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and won two Ballon d'Or awards. He retired in 2011.

Erling Haaland

Norway's Erling Haaland was shown on the display screen at the end of the performance by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic, and Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. He was seen beating a drum as his team began their iconic rowing gesture — a fan-created tradition representing the team and country. The footage was not filmed for the event; it was old footage of Haaland beating the drum as the team and crowd rowed.

Haaland has drawn significant attention during the 2026 World Cup, not only for his excellent play — scoring seven goals in his debut World Cup — but also for his viral 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 legendary soccer player Pelé delivering a speech about "Love," calling on the crowd to say "Love" three times. This prompted the next and final World Cup halftime performance featuring PS22, the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Coldplay, who were later joined by the rest of the performers.

Pelé (full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento) is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. The legendary Brazilian footballer 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.