The outrageous act of the FIFA president and a farewell gift from his wife: in Brazil they say goodbye to Pele (photo)

On Tuesday, January 3, in Brazil, they say goodbye to the King of Football, Pelé, who died a few days ago from colon cancer.

In order to honor the only three-time world champion in history, a tent with the body of a legend was set up at the Vila Belmiro stadium, where Pelé played most of his career for Santos, and everyone (and such, for according to the Brazilian media, it turned out to be more than 230 thousand people) could personally say goodbye to the King of Football.

Dozens of wreaths were placed around the coffin, sent by big players like Neymar and Europe’s top clubs like Real Madrid. And around the perimeter of the stadium were hung banners in honor of the legend - in particular, one of them was written Viva O Rei (“Long Live the King”).

Particular attention was focused on the Pele family - the widow of Marcia Aoki, his sons and daughters. So, for example, photographers captured the moment when Marcia, as a farewell gift to the man she was married to since 2016, removed the chain with a cross from her neck and put it on Pele’s body.

One of those who said goodbye along with everyone from Pele was FIFA President Gianni Infantino. However, at the same time he got into a delicate situation. Yes, the functionary, standing at the coffin of the King of Football, decided to … take a selfie with Pele’s teammate in Santos Lima and at the same time smiled broadly.

Infantino also came up with the idea that all 211 associations that are members of FIFA should rename at least one stadium in the country in honor of Pele. “The king of football left behind an incredible legacy in football, simply unique. Pele had a gift from God - one that few people have on Earth. He touched people’s hearts and emotions. And he was the first to do things that 99% of players can only dream of and only 1% can do. And he was the first. He will forever remain in our hearts. It is necessary that the football world remember Pele forever“, - stressed the president of the world’s main football body.

However, this idea is unlikely to be put into practice, because the greatness of Pele, who has never played in Europe, is not so unconditional for everyone.

From the Vila Belmiro stadium, Pele’s coffin was taken to the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica cemetery, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest vertical cemetery in the world with 14 floors and 14 thousand cells, on the roof of a fire engine.

True, the coffin from Pele will be installed on the first floor of the cemetery - this is done for the convenience of fans access to the body of the legend.

Earlier, FACTS reported that Pele’s bedridden 100-year-old mother does not know about her son’s death.