Huge numbers of mourners gathered at the Santos stadium in Sao Paulo on Monday to bid farewell and pay their respects to Brazilian football legend Pele, who died on Thursday.
The coffin of Pele, who was considered by many to be the best footballer of all time in the world, was placed in the middle of the field at the Urbano Caldeira stadium, which is the home of Pele’s former club Santos.
The procession that carried the coffin was followed by huge numbers of people along the streets on Monday morning. People queued for the stadium well into the night, and the queue stretched up to two kilometers long.
– Pele is a huge source of pride for Brazil. He’s not from Santos, but it became his home, and he belongs to them – but also to the world, South American soccer reporter Tim Vickery described to the BBC.
– The people on the streets make this day so beautiful. It’s amazing to see people all over the world wearing soccer jerseys. That’s Pele’s legend, Brazilian journalist Ricardo Seyton, who has followed Pele’s career for a long time, told the BBC.
Pele is the only soccer player to win three world championships. He scored an incredible 1,283 goals in his career, including 1,091 while playing for Santos over 18 years. “The King” scored the rest of his goals for the Brazilian national team and the New York Cosmos of the North American professional league, where he ended his career in 1977.
Pele was 82 years old when he died. On Tuesday, he will be escorted through the streets of Santos in a funeral procession for a private burial ceremony.
“The game is forever”
Gianni Infantino, president of the International Football Association Fifa, was also present at the stadium. He said that Fifa has a special request for “every country in the world”.
– We are going to ask every country in the world to name one of its football stadiums after Pele, Infantino said.
Chairman of the Finnish Football Association Ari Lahten nothing more official than that has been heard from Fifa, but it would very well be considered if there is a request from Fifa.
– Yes, it is something that would certainly be considered if an official request comes, Lahti stated on Monday evening.
– Pele is definitely a global idol. The first real great worldwide champion, Lahti summed up, still understanding, the tribute outlined by Infantino.