Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
29 April, 2026, 5:18 pm
Central - 27°C Rain
IN DEPTH
29 April, 2026, 5:18 pm Central - 27°C Rain

Thousands line streets of Santos as Pele is laid to rest

Thousands line streets of Santos as Pele is laid to rest

By Rashika Kumar
04/01/2023
Photo:SportsMax

Thousands of mourners lined the streets as Brazilian football icon Pele was laid to rest in Santos, the city of his former club.

Pele had been lying in state for 24 hours in the centre of the pitch at the club's Urbano Caldeira stadium for the public to pay their respects.

People crowded the streets as his coffin was carried on a fire truck to a private family funeral.

Pele - a three-time World Cup winner - died at the age of 82 on 29 December.

Arguably the world's greatest ever footballer, he had been receiving treatment for colon cancer since 2021.

Brazil's government declared three days of national mourning after his death, and the country's new president - Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - travelled to Santos to pay his respects.

Covered with a Brazilian flag, Pele's coffin was carried on a fire truck through the packed roads of fans.

The procession also passed by the house where his 100-year-old mother, Celeste Arantes, still lives.

Santos FC says more than 230,000 people had attended his 24-hour wake in the Vila Belmiro stadium, where a steady stream of mourners continued through the night.

The funeral cortège will end at the port city's Memorial Cemetery, where a Catholic funeral service will be held before Pele is interred in a 10-storey mausoleum that holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest cemetery on Earth.

Source: BBC Sports

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Khan facing charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act appears in Nadi Court
A person of interest known as King Khan is currently appearing before the Nadi Magistrates Court.Imran Khan's charge relates to unexplained wealth.Kha...
50 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
New civic education resources launched to prepare future voters
Future voters in Fiji are expected to gain a stronger understanding of democracy, civic responsibility and their rights through a new education ...
4 minutes ago

"They are still out there” – father’s hope remains as search continues
A father of one of the nine missing fishermen says the moment they received news that the boat had been found without any sign of the men was filled ...
24 minutes ago

Major maintenance and upgrades underway at Lautoka and Labasa mills-Tunabuna
Major maintenance and targeted upgrades at the Lautoka and Labasa sugar mills are being carried out by the Fiji Sugar Corporation ahead of the next ...
1 hour ago

Current fuel stocks are adequate and supply remains stable - Ro Filipe
Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transportation, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, has assured members of Parliament and the people of Fiji ...
1 hour ago

Rainbow Pride Foundation urges better enforcement of rights for LGBTIQ communities
The Rainbow Pride Foundation says Fiji’s Constitution must better reflect the dignity, equality and lived realities of people of diverse sexual ...
1 hour ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Seaqaqa and Labasa cane farmers fear for livelihood due non-renewal of leases
While hundreds of leases have been renewed, non-renewals and subdivision of cane land for residential use in Seaqaqa are leaving many farming ...
4 hours ago

Citizens to oppose proposed TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda
Serious concerns are being raised regarding a proposed Australian company's TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda, and a group of concerned ...
1 day ago

Drug lord Jone Vakarisi dies in military custody as investigations find unauthorised weapons outside RFMF inventory
Druglord, Jone Vakarisi has died in military custoday, 3 other associates have been released after questioning, 1 RFMF personnel remains in military ...
8 days ago

TOP