MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Pele funeral: Fifa's Gianni Infantino will request every country to name a stadium after football legend

There will be a private burial but before that, the soccer legend's funeral procession will move through the streets of Santos

SANTOS, BRAZIL: In a public viewing procession, mourners have begun paying their tributes to the soccer legend Pele on Monday at the Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, where he was born and scored some of the best goals of his career. Pele, The three-time World Cup winner, unfortunately, died of cancer on Thursday, December 29, at the age of 82.

Pele's death shook the entire football community and his fans worldwide. To pay their respect, mourners passed by his coffin, placed at the stadium outside Sao Paulo. On Tuesday, he will be buried in a cemetery barely 600 meters away from the stadium. At his funeral, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that he will request every country to name a stadium after the legend.

READ MORE

Pele's final request to Tom Brady was dashed after his 'un-retirement' and divorce from Gisele Bundchen

'Pele is forever!' Lionel Messi, Mbappe, Neymar mourn football legend's death at 82

"We're going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele," said Infantino, who attended the memorial as per BBC. There will be a private burial but before that, the funeral procession will move through the streets of Santos. Even before when the hearse arrived at the stadium on Monday morning, thousands of supporters had gathered on the streets beforehand, with some waiting overnight to view the casket. Brazilian flags and No. 10 jerseys, which became well-known after Pelé started sporting them while playing for Santos and Brazil, were displayed around Vila Belmiro. According to Mirror, scores of fans arrived several hours before the gates to the Vila opened and many among them were sleeping on the streets. 

Soon after the legend's death, the Brazilian government announced three days of national mourning. While a lot of footballers from the past and present have paid their condolences on social media, the public funeral reception and march through Sao Paulo allows more to see the legend in front of their eyes for the last time. 

Marcia Aoki, Pele's wife of six years, and son Edinho who also paid their tributes during the procession were seen exchanging words with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Moreover, in the heartening gestures football legend's centenarian mother, Celeste also arrived to say her last goodbyes and pay her respects after learning about her son's death. She is reported to be living in her 'own world' and wasn't aware of Pele's passing away till recently. "Very poignant. Two police officers just told me Pele's 100-year-old mum, who is in ill health, has just arrived at the stadium and is now on the pitch to pay her respects to her beloved son," the Mirror reported.