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Brazil was in mourning on Tuesday as legendary soccer player Pelé was laid to rest after his death last week at the age of 82. Arguably the greatest of all time, he made his name with Santos FC and won three FIFA World Cups for his country and over 200,000 mourners paid tribute to him before his burial.
Recently reelected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro as part of a 24-hour wake ahead of Pele’s burial. The likes of FIFA president Gianni Infantino have also visited Brazil to bid farewell to one of the most important soccer figures of all time.
A funeral cortege took place from the stadium where his coffin had been placed with one stand draped in a banner reading “Long live the King” in reference to Pele’s nickname as a player.
Lula flew in on Tuesday morning having been sworn in for his third term as president in the capital city of Brasilia and wrote “Farewell to the king,” via Twitter. “Rest in peace, Pelé.”
The queue to enter Vila Belmiro stretched out of the stadium on Tuesday morning with many waiting hours for a final glimpse of the legend.
Pele’s body was finally escorted on a fire engine surrounded by police to the beachfront towards the home of his mother Celeste Arantes before a private burial at a local cemetery.
Brazilian television was also suspended in order to broadcast only the procession which is similar to Argentina’s media treatment of Diego Maradona’s passing.
Thousands lined the streets of Santos to cheer and sing Pele’s name as his coffin drove by on its way to his final resting stop.
Here are some of the sights and sounds:
Arrival at his mother’s house
The fire engine carrying the casket stops in front of the house of his 100-year-old mother:
Brazil’s new president arrives to pay tribute
Lula arrived in Santos for the ceremony:
FIFA president wants stadiums named to honor Pelé
Gianni Infantino says FIFA will request a stadium in every country to be named after the Brazilian legend and has added: “the most important in any case is to pay tribute to King Pelé, and whilst I humbly suggested that throughout our 211 member associations at least one football stadium or venue is named after him, we will set the example by giving the pitch in our headquarters the name ‘Estádio Pelé – FIFA Zürich’. Um abraço e viva o Rei!”
Infantino also courted controversy by appearing to pose for a selfie next to Pele’s coffin during the FIFA supremo’s visit: “I am dismayed after having been informed that I am apparently being criticised by some people for having taken a selfie and pictures at the ceremony yesterday,” he said of his actions. “I would like to clarify that I was both honored and humbled that teammates and family members of the great Pelé asked me if I could take a few photos with them. And obviously, I immediately agreed.
“In the case of the selfie, Pelé’s teammates asked to do a selfie of all of us together but they didn’t know how to do it. So, to be helpful, I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him. If being helpful to a teammate of Pelé creates criticism I’m happy to take it and will continue to be helpful wherever I can to those having contributed to write legendary pages of football.
“I have so much respect and admiration for Pelé and for that ceremony yesterday that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever. I hope that those who published or said things without knowing and without seeking information could have the decency and courage to admit they were wrong and correct what they said.”
Pelé leaves the Vila Belmiro for the last time
His last visit to the stadium where he became the best player in the world.
