Goleo VI
From Muppet Wiki
Goleo, with Pille, left
Goleo VI was the mascot for the 2006 FIFA World Cup soccer tournmaent, held in Germany. Goleo, a full-bodied lion, was built by the Jim Henson Company's Los Angeles workshop, and was first unveiled in November 2004. Martin Paas performed inside the suit, with three other puppeteers assisting. Mak Wilson served as choreographer for the character.
During the World Cup, Goleo was joined by his sidekick Pille, a talking soccer ball/football. While performed by Paas' Sesamstrasse co-star Carsten Haffke, Pille is not a Henson character, but was built by German puppet maker Ute Krafft.
