Brazil Pele The remains of late Brazilian soccer great Pele are carried into Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery at the end of his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The remains of late Brazilian soccer great Pele are lowered from a firetruck as his funeral procession arrives to Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele The Portuguese words "Pele King" decorate a street along the route of the funeral procession of the late Brazilian soccer great, from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
APTOPIX Brazil Pele Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, gives condolences to Marcia Aoki, widow of the late Brazilian soccer player Pele, during a wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, gives condolences to Marcia Aoki, widow of the late Brazilian soccer great Pele, during a wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
APTOPIX Brazil Pele A man holds his daughter as he lines up to pay his last respects to the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele who lies in state at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A soccer fan sleeps on the street as people line up to attend the funeral of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A man holds his daughter as he lines up to attend the funeral of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele People wait in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele, the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele Soccer fans line up to attend the funeral procession of late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at Vila Belmiro stadium where his wake was held in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele People wait in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele, the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele Soccer fans cheer as they pay their last respects to the late Brazilian soccer great Pele during his wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A street vendor sells drinks as soccer fans line up to attend the funeral of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The coffin with the remains of Brazilian soccer great Pele lies in state during his wake on the pitch of the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele A soccer fan with a tattoo depicting the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele sits outside the Vila Belmiro stadium where his body lies in state for his wake in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A flower arrangement sent by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva lays arrive for the wake of late Brazilian soccer great Pele as he lies instate at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
APTOPIX Brazil Pele A soccer fans rests after paying his last respects to the late Brazilian soccer great Pele who lies in state at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A woman kisses a post card of Pele as she waits in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium where the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The remains of late Brazilian soccer great Pele are carried into Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery at the end of his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele People wait in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele, the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele A crown displayed on a TV screen at Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele, the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
APTOPIX Brazil Pele The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele People watch the funeral procession of Brazilian soccer great Pele pass by the home of Pele's mother, where members of his family stand on the balcony, as his remains are taken from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele Maria Lucia Nascimento, the sister of the late Brazilian soccer great Pele, signals a heart to people gathered outside her mother's home, during Pele's funeral procession from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported on a firetruck from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
APTOPIX Brazil Pele A fan waves a Santos FC soccer club flag along the route of the funeral procession for late Brazilian soccer great Pele, from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery, in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele People pray outside the home of the mother of Brazilian soccer great Pele during his funeral procession from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele Soccer fans pay their last respects to the late Brazilian soccer great Pele who lies in state at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele The entrance to the mausoleum of late Brazilian soccer great Pele features statues of him, before his coffin is placed inside at Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele The remains of late Brazilian soccer great Pele are carried into Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery at the end of his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
AP Photo/Andre Penner
Brazil Pele The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported on a firetruck from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele People hold a banner of the late Brazilian soccer great Pele along the route of his funeral procession from Vila Belmiro stadium to the cemetery in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Brazil Pele Brazilian soccer great Pele lies in state at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Brazil said a final farewell to Pelé on Tuesday, burying the legend who unified the bitterly divided country.
Newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pelé played for most of his career.
Pelé died last week at age 82 and was laid to rest in Santos, the city where he became famous after moving there at age 15 to play for Santos FC. The funeral Mass was held at the team’s Vila Belmiro stadium before his black casket was driven through the streets of the of Santos in a firetruck.
It was taken into the cemetery as bands played the team’s official song and a Roman Catholic hymn. Before the golden-wrapped casket arrived, attendees sang samba songs that Pelé liked.
Some Brazilian soccer legends weren’t there.
“Where’s Ronaldo Nazario? Where’s Kaká, where’s Neymar?” asked Claudionor Alves, 67, who works at a bakery next to the stadium. “Do they think they will be remembered like Pelé will? These guys didn’t want to stop their vacations, that’s the problem.”
Geovana Sarmento, 17, waited in a three-hour line to view Pelé’s body as it lay in repose. She came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name.
“I am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil’s national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him,” she said.
Caio Zalke, 35, an engineer, wore a Brazil shirt as he waited in the line.
“Pelé is the most important Brazilian of all time. He made the sport important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,” Zalke said.
Pelé in the 1960s and 1970s was perhaps the world’s most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and a civil war in Nigeria was put on hold so people could watch him play. Many Brazilians credit Pelé with putting the country on the world stage for the first time.
Rows of shirts with Pelé’s No. 10 were placed behind one of the stadium’s goals, waving in the city’s summer winds. A section of the stands filled up with bouquets of flowers placed by mourners and sent by clubs and star players — Neymar and Ronaldo among them — from around the world as loudspeakers played the song “Eu sou Pelé” (“I am Pelé”) recorded by him.
The crowd was mostly local, although some came from far away, and many mourners were too young ever to have seen Pelé play. The mood was light, as people filtered out of the stadium to local bars, wearing Santos FC and Brazil shirts.
Claudio Carrança, 32, a salesman, said: “I never saw him play, but loving Pelé is a tradition that goes from father to son in Santos. I learned his history, saw his goals, and I see how Santos FC is important because he is important. I know some Santos fans have children supporting other teams. But that’s just because they never saw Pelé in action. If they had, they would feel this gratitude I feel now.”
Among those at the stadium was Pelé’s best friend Manoel Maria, also a former Santos player.
“If I had all the wealth in the world I would never be able to repay what this man did for me and my family,” Maria said. “He was as great a man as he was as a player — the best of all time. His legacy will outlive us all. And that can be seen in this long line with people of all ages here.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should name a stadium after Pelé.
“I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,” Infantino said. “As FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the ‘King’ and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.”
Another fan and friend in line was Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.
“It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,” Mendes told journalists. “My office has shirts signed by Pelé, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him.”
Pelé had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
Pelé led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pelé’s record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
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