Madonna ignites Rio de Janeiro in a "historic" concert described as the biggest of her career

 American star Madonna gave a free concert on Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach, which she described as the biggest of her more than four-decade career, at the end of a world tour that has taken her to dozens of countries.

It is difficult to determine the number of people who attended the concert, with estimates ranging from
hundreds of thousands to one and a half million. The vast beach was filled with people excited to see the "Queen of Pop". Dozens of boats also approached Copacabana to enjoy the breathtaking view.

Shortly before 23:00 (02:00 GMT Sunday), Madonna, dressed all in black, took the stage to perform "Nothing Really Matters," an anthem of resilience.

The American star addressed the crowd, saying, "Here we are in Rio, the most beautiful place in the world," before dazzling the Brazilian city for more than two hours.

With this concert, which was described a few days ago as "historic", the 65-year-old pop star concluded her "Celebration" tour, in which she celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the beginning of her artistic career, with all its impressive musical works, brilliance and scandals.

On a huge stage of more than 800 square meters, Madonna reviewed the highlights of her life and her transformations in terms of music and clothes, from pop to electronic music, with some inspiration from the music of the cabaret world.

Prominent guests also attended Madonna's concert, and she was surrounded by a number of her children, who accompanied her in music and dance against the backdrop of the Brazilian flag.

When she performed her hit song "Vogue," she was joined on stage by Brazilian singer Anitta, who introduced the rest of the world to the funk of the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

Famous Brazilian drag queen Pablo Vitar and a troupe of children's percussionists from the city's famous samba schools also took part in the ceremony.

Fans from different generations in the audience talked about Madonna's place in their lives.

Alba and Roxy Rueda, two Argentine sisters, ages 48 and 46, bought plane tickets to Rio as soon as word of the party spread months ago.

"When I was nine years old, my older sister, who died last year, gave me my first Walkman along with a tape of 'Like a Virgin,'" the hit that launched Madonna's career, Alba said. "We have not stopped listening to it since. So for us, coming here is tied to our relationship as sisters," she added.

To add to the excitement before the party, a series of DJs, including American Diplo, took turns spinning on the "world's biggest dance floor" as night fell.

Then it was time for the "Queen" to leave her palace, the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel, a haven of peace and luxury for Hollywood and pop stars for decades, where Madonna and her family have been staying since the beginning of the week.

Madonna walked down the walkway that was specially prepared for the occasion, which led her directly to the stage.

The presence of the police was strong, on almost every street in a neighborhood that regularly witnesses various crimes, but also in the air with helicopters and marches that flew in the sky of the event.

After 80 concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico, the Rio de Janeiro show is the finale of Madonna's world tour, but it is also a challenge after a bacterial infection put the singer in intensive care in June 2023, causing concern to her fans around the world.

Opposite the Copacabana Palace and along the beach, where souvenir vendors displayed items related to Madonna and increased their stocks and prices, the atmosphere in recent days seemed festive, reminiscent of the atmosphere of the Rio Carnival, which took place about three months ago.

Three planes carrying 270 tons of equipment landed in Rio de Janeiro for the concert of the American star, who is used to dazzling high-definition shows.

The concert was a major event for the city of Rio, as its contribution to the local economy was estimated at 293 million Brazilian reals (about $58 million), according to the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, which contributed 20 million reals to the event, out of a total estimated cost of 60 million. .