The casket housing the body of the late Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, was draped in the Brazilian flag and moved around major streets in the country before his burial yesterday in Sao Paulo, the country’s capital.
Thousands of mourners lined the streets as the coffin departed the Santos stadium atop a fire engine.
Pele was interred in a vault at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, which is only a half-mile from the stadium where he first gained notoriety.
Pele had contemplated his last resting place for a very long time before deciding to wear the No. 9 jersey in honour of his late father, Dodinho, who passed away in 1996.
Pele made the decision to be interred in the world’s tallest vertical cemetery on the ninth floor as a tribute to his father.
According to his fans, being buried in that cemetery will enable Pele to be able to watch over his favourite football pitch for eternity.
The vertical cemetery, which houses more than 14,000 vaults, was constructed in 1983. It contains a restaurant, a tropical garden, and even a museum of vintage cars.
The rest of the football world also paid their respects to the legendary footballer in Sao Paulo.
Pele, who won the three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970, passed away in December at the age of 82.
The footballing world and beyond poured in their condolences for a man universally regarded as the best player to ever play the game.
After Pele passed away, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose tenure came to an end at the beginning of the year, proclaimed three days of national mourning.
Several football players past and present have posted tributes on social media, and many people also had the chance to pay their respects in person during the funeral reception and procession through Sao Paulo.
