Lula da Silva, new President of Brazil, has joined mourners in paying their respects as Pele’s coffin is prepared to be moved from the Stadium and through the streets of Santos.
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| President of Brazil Lula da Silva greets Pele’s widow and other family members |
Lula took office in a ceremony that commenced with a minute’s silence for Pele.
Lula paused before the Brazilian football legend’s coffin and hugged his widow as well as other members of family.
Fans in thousands converged on the streets as the hearse carrying the coffin of football legend, Pele, arrived at the Santos football club homeground on Monday.
Pele’s son, Edinho, and former Brazil midfielder, Ze Roberto, helped carry the coffin with floral wreaths sent by Neymar and Vinicius Junior, Brazil internationals who play for French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid respectively.
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| Fans converge outside the Santos football club homeground, where Pele’s football started |
From tears to applause for the life of the football icon, others fell to the ground in honour of the man who brought fame to Brazil football.
A fan said: “Pele was the Pele of the people, he joined all of us. It’ll be hard to find someone else like him. In addition to being the best player in the world, he was a marvellous human being.”
Another fan said: “Everyone in Brazil wants to be a football player to imitate him. Which of course nobody can.”
