STANBUL — This evening, Brazilian pop sensation Anitta and GRAMMY award-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy delivered an unforgettable co-headline performance at the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi® in Istanbul.
The show – which closed with an electrifying special guest appearance from multi-platinum DJ and producer Alesso – was the culmination of Pepsi’s action-packed 2023 football campaign, and took place just moments before the biggest game in club football commenced.
Marking Pepsi’s seventh time delivering the pre-game entertainment for the UEFA Champions League Final, the Kick Off Show by Pepsi took place in front of a sold-out Atatürk Olympic Stadium crowd ahead of the unmissable clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
The vibrant celebration of sport and entertainment united football and music fans through one must-see spectacle, featuring a stunning light display, mesmerising pyro moments, and world-class special effects.
Burna Boy ignited the stadium with breathtaking renditions of his global hits ‘Last Last’ and ‘It’s Plenty’, complete with drummers in outfits inspired by the vibrant patterns, prints and colours of Nigerian fashion and accompanied by a cast of dancers who flooded the field, carrying bold, African-inspired flags.
Anitta’s pulsating Latin-American rhythms then filled the stadium as she performed the global smash, ‘Envolver’, surrounded by over 60 LED hexagonal panels that featured animated content. She then gave fans a flavour of her epic Brazilian funk new single ‘Funk Rave’, much to the adoration of the roaring crowd.
The six-minute show culminated in a finale from renowned Swedish DJ Alesso – appearing as a special guest – who reminded the football world that players can become legends overnight with his track, ‘Heroes (we could be)’. Alesso’s appearance was accompanied by mesmerising SFX and pyro moments which lit up the stadium just moments before the players took to the field.
Alongside an electrifying mass cast who added energy and splashes of colour to the stunning choreography, this year marked the first time ever that Pepsi invited fans to get involved in the Kick Off Show for themselves through the #PepsiKickOffShow TikTok challenge. Launched in collaboration with Burna Boy back in March, the challenge saw seven lucky winners from across the globe granted the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform their best dance moves as part of the Kick Off Show cast.
With historically deep roots in sport and music, Pepsi is proud to present the UEFA Champions League final Kick Off Show each year, bringing together the hottest music acts in the world to put on an unmissable performance that elevates the UEFA Champions League Final, as the world’s most-watched annual sporting event, into a truly global entertainment platform.
