Brazil: Farewell to football legend Pele Funeral services were held in Santos. Tens of thousands came to pay tribute to Pele. The body was taken from Belmiro Stadium to the cemetery in a mourning procession. Brazilian President Lula de Silva and FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Santos Stadium to pay their last respects to Pele.
Pele had been in hospital for a month after his health deteriorated. Pele was moved to palliative care because he was not responding to chemotherapy and drugs. He died at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. He was 82 years old.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pele was born on October 23, 1940 in a poor family in Sao Paulo. Pele was Brazil’s leading goalscorer and was instrumental in their three World Cup victories. Pele scored 77 goals in 92 games. He played in four World Cups (including 1966) and was awarded the FIFA Player of the Century. Pele, who started his football career with Santos at the age of 15, joined the Brazilian national team at the age of 16.
