With Mexico City serving as one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Museo Jumex presents an exhibition that goes beyond sport to explore soccer as a cultural phenomenon capable of connecting generations, territories, and identities. Objects of Legend: Iconic Moments in Football History, organized in collaboration with the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and Qatar Museums, brings together an extraordinary selection of historic artifacts that trace more than a century of history through some of the most emblematic objects in the world’s most popular sport.
The exhibition forms part of the Qatar-Canada-Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, an international initiative that promotes cultural exchange through art, education, heritage, and sport. Within this framework, soccer emerges as a universal language capable of telling shared stories that transcend borders.
The journey begins with objects that document the origins of modern soccer, including a hand-painted leather ball commemorating the 1888 FA Cup Final, one of the earliest landmark moments in organized football in England. Visitors will also find an official Football League rulebook from the 1893–1894 season and a replica of the historic Jules Rimet Trophy, the predecessor to today’s FIFA World Cup trophy.
Among the exhibition’s highlights are artifacts connected to Pelé, including the boots he wore during the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the ball associated with his historic 1,000th goal, and an autographed Brazil national team jersey. Together, these pieces celebrate the career of the player who helped transform soccer into a truly global phenomenon.
The legacy of Diego Maradona occupies another central chapter of the exhibition. Alongside boots from the early years of his career, visitors can view the jersey he wore during the quarterfinal match between Argentina and England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the game in which he scored both the famous “Hand of God” goal and the unforgettable “Goal of the Century,” two of the defining moments of his career.
The exhibition also explores the contemporary evolution of the game through figures such as David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé. Among the featured artifacts is a jersey worn by Messi during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, offering a glimpse into the beginnings of a career that would go on to redefine the history of the sport.
Beyond its most celebrated stars, Objects of Legend broadens the conversation to include stories of representation and social impact. The jersey of Honey Thaljieh, captain of the first Palestinian women’s national team, highlights soccer’s role as a tool for inclusion, resilience, and cultural transformation.
Presented alongside the 2026 World Cup, the exhibition holds particular significance for Mexican audiences. Many of the objects on display are directly connected to historic moments that unfolded in the country, from Pelé’s triumph in Mexico 1970 to Maradona’s legendary performance in Mexico 1986. More than a collection of sporting relics, Objects of Legend: Iconic Moments in Football History is a celebration of collective memory and of soccer’s enduring ability to unite cultures, generations, and emotions across time.
https://www.fundacionjumex.org/es/
