Brazil: President Lula meditates in front of Pelé's coffin

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offers condolences to Marcia Aoki, widow of late Brazilian soccer player Pelé, during a vigil at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. AP - Andre Penner

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva paid his last tribute to Pelé on Tuesday, January 3, by praying in front of the coffin of the legendary footballer at the Santos stadium.

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The president's white helicopter landed in a stadium close to that of Vila Belmiro.

Lula was accompanied by his vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, report our special correspondents

Annie Gasnier

and

Richard Riffoneau

.

Lula, who

took office on Sunday

in Brasilia, offered his condolences to Pelé's widow when he arrived under the awning where the coffin is exposed, in the stadium where the "King" shone in the jersey of Santos FC.

The last visitors have been admitted to the enclosure, but it is now time for the family and loved ones of the legendary footballer.

Pelé becomes Edson Arantes do Nascimento again.

His coffin is surrounded by his wife Marcia Aoki, his children, in particular Enthino, the former footballer who looks so much like his dad, finally grandchildren and friends are there.

► To read also: 

"What he did for us, no one will do again": thousands of Brazilians bid farewell to Pelé

A passage in front of his mother's house

A mass must be made shortly, the coffin closed and hoisted on a fire engine.

The cemetery is not very far, only one kilometer from the stadium.

But the funeral procession must criss-cross the streets of Santos, stopping in front of the house of his mother, the centenarian Dona Celeste, before reaching his final resting place.

On Monday, thousands of fans and football dignitaries, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, gathered in front of the black coffin of Pelé installed in the center of the stadium of FC Santos, the club where he played from 1956 to 1974.

► Also to discover: Pelé, the legend of a "King" in pictures

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  • Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

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