“It´s agreed then! We´ll meet at the statue of Bellini.”
Traditional meeting point for fans when there is a match at the Maracanã Stadium, and a popular tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro, the monument ´For the World Football Champions´ — or the ´Bellini Statue´, as it is more commonly known — was originally conceived as a tribute to the captain and the Brazilian squad that won the country's first World Cup in Sweden in 1958.
Image description: This is a detailed painting of a historic square. On the left side, we see buildings with facades clearly marked by windows and doors. In front, there is a group of people walking and interacting. In the center, a palace with a red roof stands out, followed by a large church with domes and towers. On the right, smaller buildings complete the scene. The sky is cloudy, giving the scene a gray tone.Monument to the world football champions in 1969. Photo: Cariocadorio site
Hilderaldo Luís Bellini had been making a name for himself as a defender for Vasco da Gama (1952–1962) when he was called up for the 1958 World Cup. He was a classic defender, a tough player. Nelson Rodrigues ironically wrote about his style of playing: "Playing in defense, Bellini kicks the ball too." Whether for his style or his leadership, he was chosen as the captain of the squad that included legends such as Nilton Santos, Zito, Didi, Zagallo, and Pelé.
Image description: The image shows a logo and text related to the Special Secretariat of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism of Brazil. On the left, there is the text "SPECIAL SECRETARIAT OF CULTURE MINISTRY OF TOURISM" in black on a white background. On the right, there is a logo in green, yellow, and blue, representing Brazil's coat of arms, accompanied by the text "BELOVED HOMELAND BRAZIL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT."The statue was created by the visual artist Matheus Fernandes, a professor at the Municipal Institute of Fine Arts. It is made of bronze, stands 9 meters tall, and weighs approximately 3 tons. The sculpture depicts a football player standing on a granite globe, holding a ball in one hand. His other hand is raised and is holding the Jules Rimet Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the FIFA World Cup. The entire ensemble is set atop a stone pedestal.
Image description: The image is a photograph of a statue located in front of Maracanã Stadium. The statue depicts an athlete raising a trophy with his right hand. The athlete is set against a sculpted sphere bearing the years "1958" and "1962". In the background, there is an architectural structure with columns and hanging flags. On the left and right of the image, there are palm trees. The sky is light blue and cloudless.The idea of honoring the 1958 World Cup champions gained momentum in early 1960, driven by the newspaper Jornal dos Sports and the radio program Noite de Gala, sponsored by the home appliance chain Rei da Voz. Although it remains uncertain who originally conceived the tribute, it is clear that both entities sponsored it and made it happen.
Image description: This is a photograph of an interior courtyard of a building with classical architecture. The image shows a panoramic view of the courtyard, where the architectural elements stand out. On the left side, there is a white building with windows and balconies. As we look toward the center, the red-tiled roof is visible, continuing the structure. On the right, there is another white building with an open door and a large window. In the background, the blue sky with a few clouds is visible, providing contrast with the buildings.Face frontal do pedestal da estátua – placa com os patrocinadores da homenagem. Foto: Matheus Avellar
The statue was unveiled on 13 November, 1960, on Avenida Maracanã, in front of one of the access ramps to the stadium. The ceremony was attended by several World Cup winners, as well as João Havelange, then president of the Brazilian Sports Confederation, and the patrons of the tribute: the journalist Mário Filho who was the editor-in-chief of Jornal dos Sports and the businessman, Abraham Medina, who owned the chain Rei da Voz.
Image description: This is a black-and-white illustration, possibly an engraving or drawing, depicting an indoor setting with several people spread throughout the space. On the left side, there is a vertical structure with vertical windows. In the center, a group of individuals is gathered standing, some appearing to be talking. On the right, a person is seated on the floor, while others stand near an open door that reveals more people in the background. The ceiling is made up of wooden structures and tiles, suggesting an industrial or commercial building.The inauguration ceremony of the monument was attended by several players who were champions in Sweden as well as João Havelange, Mário Filho, and Abraham Medina. / Photo: Personal Archive
Although everyone knows it as the Bellini Statue, the lack of resemblance between the face of the 1958 squad captain and the face depicted on the statue has sparked some controversy. Some claim it is the face of the singer Francisco Alves, known as the Rei da Voz, the same name as the chain of stores that sponsored the statue. Others insist that it looks like the journalist Hamilton Sbarra, from whom the author, Matheus Fernandes, allegedly requested a photograph to serve as a model for the head of the piece. Despite the debate surrounding the face, it is known that the defender Bellini posed for at least two sessions with the sculptor.
Image description: This is a color illustration depicting a public event. On the left side, we see a structure with arches decorated with golden curtains. People dressed in military uniforms are on a raised platform, distributing pamphlets. On the right, there is a large crowd gathered in an open field. In the background, we see a classical house and a hill.The eternalized gesture: Bellini holding up the trophy/Photo: Giuseppe Bizzarr (left) and O Cruzeiro/EM/D.A Press (right)
Despite the controversies the monument immortalized captain Bellini´s unprecedented gesture, marking the beginning of an era of Brazilian football dominance on the world stage, crowned with the 1962 and 1970 victories. This helped the country overcome what Nelson Rodrigues famously called the "mutt complex" (complexo de vira-latas), at least in the arena of football. In 1998 and 2011, new plaques were added to the statue's pedestal with the names of the World Cup champions from 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002, who also came to be honored by the monument.
Image description: The image shows two metal plaques mounted on a wall. The plaque on the left reads "Tetra-Champion Players of the 1994 World Cup United States," listing player names. The plaque on the right reads "Penta-Champion Players of the 2002 World Cup South Korea Japan," also with a list of player names. Both plaques are black with gold lettering and are positioned side by side, with the 1994 plaque on the left and the 2002 plaque on the right.Details of the bronze plaques on the pedestal / Photos: Matheus Avellar
Image description: The image shows three logos arranged horizontally, from left to right. The first logo, on the left, is blue and white with the text "RIO CAPITAL DO G20 BRASIL 2024" and a colorful symbol. In the center, there is a blue logo with the text "RIO PREFEITURA TURISMO". On the right, an orange logo with the text "RIO MEMÓRIAS". All letters are uppercase and the background is white.
