Last Thursday, December 29, the unfortunate death of Edson Arandes do Nascimento, Pelé, after a year-long battle with colon cancer. The biggest idol of the Brazilian team died at the age of 82 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, and a public memorial service has been prepared for him at the Santos FC stadium, although fans will have to wait a few more days.
According to the Brazilian press, the body of “O Rei” will remain in the morgue until Monday January 2, more than 48 hours after his death. Only on this day it will take place at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium (Vila Belmiro) in an event that takes place in the morning and to which there is free access.
Why will Pele’s funeral be after the New Year? The reason for this is that January 1 will see the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President-elect of Brazil, who will succeed Jair Bolsonaro. That is why the honoring of the three-time world champion has to be postponed.
Pele is the only player to have won 3 FIFA World Cups. Photo: composition of La República/AFP
O’Globo explained that Pelé’s remains will be transferred from the Albert Einstein Hospital to Vila Belmiro in the early hours of January 2 and that the general public will attend the wake, but senior officials from FIFA and Conmebol are also expected.
The next day, the funeral procession will pass by the home of the former striker’s mother, Doña Celeste, to the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial Cemetery, where the funeral will take place, to which only family members will have access.