Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Pele, Brazil, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Football
Marcus Chan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that he will ask every country in the world to name a football stadium after Brazil legend Pele, who passed away last week.
After reports of his deteriorating health in recent months, it was confirmed last week that Pele has died at the age of 82.
A statement from his family read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today.
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“Love, love and love, forever.”
Whilst Brazil mourn the death of their footballing legend, a memorial was set up at the home of Santos Football Club.
FIFA boss Infantino spoke to reports and made the suggestion that every country in the world should name a football stadium after Pele.
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Infantino said: “We are also going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.”
When news of Pele’s passing surfaced, Infantino gave a touching tribute to the only man to win three World Cups.
He said: “For everyone who loves the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pele.
“O Rei' [The King] was unique in so many ways. He was the only player to have won the World Cup three times and his skill and imagination were incomparable.
“The sight of him punching the air in celebration is one of the most iconic in our sport and is etched into our history.
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“In fact, because televised football was still in his infancy at the time, we only saw small glimpses of what he was capable of.”
Pele’s body arrived in Santos from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo in the early hours of Monday. On Tuesday, a procession will pass through the streets of Santos, ending at the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis cemetery, where he will be buried in a private ceremony.