New York renames streets after Thierry Henry, Pele ahead of World Cup

New York City has temporarily renamed streets in honor of football legends Thierry Henry and Pele as part of a celebration ahead of the World Cup, according to the City Council.

The tournament, which is being co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, starts on Thursday, with the final scheduled for next month at MetLife Stadium—now called the New York New Jersey Stadium—just outside the city limits.

Officials unveiled “Thierry Henry Way” on West 50th Street and 6th Avenue in downtown Manhattan, where crowds gathered to witness the ceremony, as shown in videos shared on social media on Wednesday.

“Today, New York City honored one of the greatest to ever play the game,” New York City Council Member Virginia Maloney wrote on Instagram.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona star, who was part of the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup, posted a recorded message on Instagram saying, “I can’t wait to walk around there the next time I go to Rockefeller Center or Radio City Music Hall.”

Henry, now 48, rose to prominence in the United States after spending five seasons with the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer until 2014.

The city has also renamed the intersection of Shea Road and Meridian Road in the Queens borough after Brazilian legend Pele, according to the New York City Council website.

Both street names will remain in effect until November 1.

The post New York renames streets after Thierry Henry, Pele ahead of World Cup appeared first on Vanguard News.