Brazil bids farewell to King Pelel

Brazil’s President Luiz Ignaco Lula da Silva will lead tributes Tuesday to Pele, widely considered the greatest football player of all time.

Brazil held three days of national mourning to pay its final respects to “The King,” the footballer who died on Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Lula, who took office on Sunday with a silence for Pele, will travel south to Santos to pay his respects and to pay tribute to the late icon as the 24-hour wake draws to an end at 9:00 AM (1200 GMT), his office stated.

Numerous football enthusiasts and officials, including Gianni Intino, FIFA president, have already filed past Pele’s black coffin at Vila Bemiro, where he first wow the world. It is home to Santos FC, which has been his longtime club.

“Pele is eternal. Infantino said Monday that he is a global icon in football, and that football’s governing body would request all member countries to name a stadium after him.

Antonio Carlos Pereira da Silva (36-year-old artist) said that he arrived at midnight to be among those who would be inside the wake when it began on Monday morning.

He told AFP that if he said he didn’t cry after his death, he would be lying.

“Pele taught us so many things. Brazil and the entire world.

– Neymar, Real Madrid –

Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nacimento in 1965, burst onto the scene when he joined Santos at the age of 15.

He was the only person to ever win the World Cup with Brazil three times, in 1962, 1970, and 1970.

Since his death, tributes pour in from all over the globe. A Who’s Who list of former and current football stars hail his genius for the “beautiful” game.

Santos has seen a steady stream of athletes, politicians and dignitaries, as well as fans, who have traveled from all walks of the political spectrum to witness the ceremony. However, turnout could be affected by the New Year’s weekend.

Pele’s coffin, which was carried by black-clad pallbearers led by his son Edinho, was brought into the stadium Monday morning.

Marcia Cibele Aoki (the widow of the late icon), his third wife, wept as she reached out and touched his head. She also placed a Rosary in his coffin.

The casket was decorated with the flags Brazil and Santos, and was surrounded in white flowers, including bouquets by Neymar or Real Madrid.

– Last parade –

From all over Brazil, other tributes have been received.

The word “eternal” is printed on a huge poster that features Pele’s picture at the Brazilian Football Confederation Headquarters in Rio.

Pele was in fragile health. She had kidney problems and colon cancer.

However, he was active on social networking, cheering for Brazil from his hospital bed at Sao Paulo, and comforting the pre-tournament favourites when they lost in the quarter-finals.

The funeral procession through Santos will pass by the home of Pele’s mother Celeste Arantes (100 years old), who is still living.

It will conclude at Santos’s Memorial Cemetery where a Catholic funeral service is held before Pele is buried in a special mausoleum.

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