Brazil says final farewell to 'King' Pele | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
July 22, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025
Brazil says final farewell to 'King' Pele

Sports

AFP
03 January, 2023, 03:25 pm
Last modified: 03 January, 2023, 03:30 pm

Related News

  • Ronaldo takes subtle dig at Pele on goal-count, aims for incredible '1000' mark
  • Pele 'would have been sad' at state of Brazil team, says son
  • Pele's former club Santos relegated for the first time
  • Neymar breaks Pele's record as Brazil crush Bolivia 5-1
  • From Pele to Beckham - four superstars who left football's elite leagues

Brazil says final farewell to 'King' Pele

After holding three days of national mourning, Brazil has been paying its last respects to the player known as "The King," who died Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.

AFP
03 January, 2023, 03:25 pm
Last modified: 03 January, 2023, 03:30 pm
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will lead the tributes Tuesday as Brazil says a final farewell to football legend Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.

After holding three days of national mourning, Brazil has been paying its last respects to the player known as "The King," who died Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.

Lula, who took office Sunday in a ceremony that started with a minute's silence for Pele, will travel to the southeastern city of Santos to "pay his respects and tribute" as the 24-hour wake for the late icon draws to a close at 9:00 am (1200 GMT), his office said.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Thousands of fans and football dignitaries, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino, have already filed past Pele's black coffin at the stadium where he first dazzled the world, the Vila Belmiro, home to his longtime club, Santos FC.

"Pele is eternal. He's a global icon of football," Infantino told journalists on Monday, saying football's governing body would ask all member countries to name a stadium in the player's honor.

Antonio Carlos Pereira da Silva, a 36-year-old artist, said he had arrived at midnight to be among the first inside when the wake began Monday morning.

"If I said I didn't cry when he died, I'd be lying," he told AFP.

"Pele taught us so much. Not just Brazil, but the whole world."

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele exploded onto the scene at age 15, when he made his professional debut with Santos.

He went on to win the World Cup three times with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970 -- the only player in history to achieve the feat.

Tributes have poured in from around the world since his death, with a Who's Who of current and former football greats hailing his genius for the "beautiful game."

A stream of athletes, politicians, dignitaries and fans have traveled to Santos for the ceremony, though turnout may be dented somewhat by the New Year's holiday weekend.

Pele's coffin was carried into the stadium Monday morning by pallbearers dressed in black, led by his son Edinho.

The late icon's widow, Marcia Cibele Aoki, his third wife, whom he married in 2016, cried before his open casket as she reached out to touch his head. She also placed a rosary in his coffin.

The casket was draped in the flags of Santos and Brazil and was surrounded by white flowers, including bouquets from the likes of Real Madrid or current Brazil star Neymar, whose father was in attendance.

The last parade
Other tributes have come in from around Brazil.

At the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio, a giant poster with Pele's image bears the word "eternal."

Pele had been in fragile health, suffering from kidney problems and then colon cancer.

But he remained active on social media, cheering on Brazil from his hospital bed in Sao Paulo during the World Cup in Qatar and consoling the pre-tournament favorites when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals, three weeks before his death.

The funeral procession through Santos will go past the house of Pele's mother, 100-year-old Celeste Arantes, who is still alive.

It will end at Santos's Memorial Cemetery, where a Catholic funeral service will be held before Pele is interred in a special mausoleum.

Football

Pele

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Students protest outside Secretariat on 22 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Students protest in front of Secretariat demanding edu adviser's resignation
  • Siddique Zubair. Photo: Collected
    Education ministry senior secretary removed from post: Adviser Mahfuj
  • Students and police clash at Milestone School and College on 22 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Protesting Milestone students clash with police, law and education advisers still besieged

MOST VIEWED

  • Training aircraft crashes at the Diabari campus of Milestone College on 21 July 2025. Photo: Courtesy
    BAF jet crash at Milestone school: At least 20 including children, pilot dead; 171 hospitalised
  • Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam. Photo: Collected
    Pilot tried to avoid disaster by steering crashing jet away from populated area: ISPR
  • An idle luxury: Built at a cost of Tk450 crore, this rest house near Parki Beach in Anwara upazila has stood unused for six months. Perched on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli, the facility now awaits a private lease as the Bridge Division seeks to put it to use. Photo: Md Minhaz Uddin
    Karnaphuli Tunnel’s service area holds tourism promises, but tall order ahead
  • Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
    Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
  • 91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
    91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
  • Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara
    Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara

Related News

  • Ronaldo takes subtle dig at Pele on goal-count, aims for incredible '1000' mark
  • Pele 'would have been sad' at state of Brazil team, says son
  • Pele's former club Santos relegated for the first time
  • Neymar breaks Pele's record as Brazil crush Bolivia 5-1
  • From Pele to Beckham - four superstars who left football's elite leagues

Features

Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

17h | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Despite poor accommodation, Ghagra’s women footballers bring home laurels

1d | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Water-resistant footwear: A splash of style in every step

1d | Brands
Tottho Apas have been protesting in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka for months, with no headway in sight. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

From empowerment to exclusion: The crisis facing Bangladesh’s Tottho Apas

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Thursday exams will not be held after July 22

Thursday exams will not be held after July 22

10m | TBS News Updates
Relatives gather at Taukir's house to bid their last farewell

Relatives gather at Taukir's house to bid their last farewell

1h | TBS Today
How to find out the cause of a plane crash

How to find out the cause of a plane crash

50m | TBS Today
PM cannot be party chief at the same time, consensus commission decides

PM cannot be party chief at the same time, consensus commission decides

1h | TBS News Updates
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net