https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJB-B9FVatM

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Pelé was buried in his final resting place Tuesday as millions of fans in Brazil and around the world mourned the sports legend. Newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pelé played for most of his career.

Pelé was being laid to rest in the city where he grew up, became famous, and helped make into a global capital of his sport. Mass was held at the Vila Belmiro stadium before the black casket was driven through the streets of the city of Santos in a firetruck.

It was taken into the cemetery as bands played the Santos team’s official song, and a Catholic hymn. Before the golden-wrapped casket arrived, attendees sang samba songs that Pelé had liked.Some legends of Pelé’s sport weren’t there.

“Where’s Ronaldo Nazario? Where’s Kaká, where’s Neymar?” asked Claudionor Alves, 67, who works at a bakery next to the stadium. “Do they think they will be remembered like Pelé will? These guys didn’t want to stop their vacations, that’s the problem.”

Another notable absentee was Jair Bolsonaro, whose term as president ended Dec. 31. A day before, he departed capital Brasilia on a flight to Florida, shirking the ceremonial duty of passing the presidential sash to Lula. Bolsonaro is staying in a condominium complex outside Orlando and has been filmed speaking to neighbors.

Geovana Sarmento, 17, waited in the three-hour line to view his body as it lay in repose. She came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name.

“I am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil’s national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him,” she said.

Caio Zalke, 35, an engineer, wore a Brazil shirt as he waited in line. “Pelé is the most important Brazilian of all time. He made the sport important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,” he said.

In the 1960s and 70s, Pelé was perhaps the world’s most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and in Nigeria a civil war was put on hold to watch him play. Many Brazilians credit him with putting the country on the world stage for the first time.

Rows of shirts with Pelé’s number 10 were placed behind one of the goals, waving in the city’s summer winds. A section of the stands was filling up with bouquets of flowers placed by mourners and sent by clubs and star players Neymar and Ronaldo among them from around the world as loudspeakers played a song named “Eu sou Pelé” (“I am Pelé”) that was recorded by the Brazilian himself.

The crowd was mostly local, although some came from far away. Many mourners were too young ever to have seen Pelé play. The mood was light, as people filtered out of the stadium to local bars, wearing Santos FC and Brazil shirts.

Claudio Carrança, 32, a salesman, said: “I never saw him play, but loving Pelé is a tradition that goes from father to son in Santos. I learned his history, saw his goals, and I see how Santos FC is important because he is important.

I know some Santos fans have children supporting other teams. But that’s just because they never saw Pelé in action. If they had, they would feel this gratitude I feel now.”

Among those at the stadium was Pelé’s best friend Manoel Maria, also a former Santos player. “If I had all the wealth in the world I would never be able to repay what this man did for me and my family,” Maria said. “He was as great a man as he was as a player; the best of all time. His legacy will outlive us all. And that can be seen in this long line with people of all ages here.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should name a stadium after Pelé.
“I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,” Infantino said. “As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the ‘King’ and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.”

Another fan and friend in line was Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes. “It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,”

Mendes told journalists. “My office has shirts signed by Pelé, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him.”

Pelé had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.

Pelé led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pelé’s record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

https://time.com/6243918/pele-funeral-brazil/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=world_&linkId=195876866

The football world will forever remember you Pele. Adiue and rest on hero. Find peace with the God you have ever believed in.

In the 1960s and 70s, Pelé was perhaps the world’s most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and in Nigeria a civil war was put on hold to watch him play. Many Brazilians credit him with putting the country on the world stage for the first time.

And no national monument was named in his honour here in Nigeria? Pele must have also been a humanitarian and peace advocate.

May his soul rest in peace, he was an electrifying and extraordinary footballer, the greatest of all time, A trailblazer

The Goat of the Goats, au revoir legend

Sleep well Legend....

Rest on

Rest on my football name seek,I remembered 24 years ago when a certain young man (he's late now ,may his soul rest in peace) named me pele after i dribbled past four players at once to score a unique goal..the guy shouted from the stands pele pele oo and the name stink till date ,then I didn't know the great guy but with time I got to know he was a fantastic player ...and I became proud of the name but after his death I realised that pele wasn't his real name but nick name ...so am glad we share a unique nick name, I pray he was good in the sight of God which is the only requirement to rest in his bosom of peace...human praise is vain only God decides who rest in peace and who rot in hades...let humanity fear God e get why

Rest up Pele

The only goats are Pele and Maradona

The only goat alive is Cr7

The great Pele played a key role in winning the 1958 and 1970 World Cups for his country, and summoned his biggest performances on the biggest stage. Rest On Legend

And his leg buried In some museum

Pls which stadium Nigeria would name after Pele?

God1000:
May his soul rest in peace, he was the most electrifying and extraordinary footballer in human history, A trailblazer

The Goat of the Goats, au revoir legend

E b lyk say na Nairaland you dey live this man. You are always on every topic. Na wah o.

Go well papa pele

Rip

And now, he has reached what he put forward

Pele RIP

Great player he was maybe Santos should retire their number 10 jersey

Hmmmmm

I want him to pass on his powers to me.

Rip the goat

Buhari, tinubu, all their fellow evil politicians and dia demented supporters of evil and backwardness should find one cemetery to make famous, Incase dy die.

Rest on Pele if possible play football to entertain them. Adieu

Weederness:
And his leg buried In some museum

is it true?

RIP, legend.

Talking about colon cancer,
while the exact etiology of colorectal and many other cancer is multi factorial and idiopathic, we should avoid ingesting nonsense into our GIT.

The one I saw today is papered straw in one Milo chocolate drink., and it became obvious to me that these companies are just after profit with zero consideration for your health.

Avoid using papered straw.

Pele has blazed the trail and set the pace.Goodnight to the king of round leather.

Racoon:
And no national monument was named in his honour here in Nigeria? Pele must have also been a humanitarian and peace advocate.

We don't celebrate greatness of such in Nigeria....

Alright!