Pelé's Funeral Draws Large Crowds, Bidding Farewell to the Legend in Eight Mile Long Procession
Thousands line the streets of Santos to say their last goodbye.
On Tuesday, January 3, 2023 the world said its last goodbye to football legend, Pelé. The Brazilian community paid respects nationwide, with over 200 million people around the world watching the final procession.
Pelé was buried in the city of Santos, the place where he grew up and became the world-renowned football player fans know today. The ceremony began with a mass at the Vila Belmiro stadium before the casket made its way through the streets of Santos to his final resting place. Those who came to pay their final respects to the Brazilian football legend stood in line for over three hours to view Pelé’s body as it lay in repose. Fans waited in line in their No. 10 Brazil jersey to pay respect to one of the world’s most famous athletes. Rows of No. 10 jerseys were placed around the city, tied to goalposts, and waving in the wind.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should have a stadium named after Pelé, “I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles. As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the ‘King’ and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.”
Pelé has led Brazil to the three World Cup finals in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He remains one of the most decorated football players to ever play the game and is one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar Jr. tied Pele’s record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar. Pelé has undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021 and died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
Take a look above at how Santos paid respect to Pelé.
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