The Government of Brazil, has declared three days of national mourning following the death of football legend, Pele, aged 82, in Sao Paulo.
This announcement was made by President Jair Bolsonaro, who would be ending his term in office on Sunday.
He declared three days of national mourning for this great footballer. He made a generous remark about the footballer in his statement.
“Pele was a great citizen and patriot, raising the name of Brazil wherever he went,” he said.
The president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reacted to this via his Twitter account that “few Brazilians carried the name of our country as far as he did”.
The last time national mourning was declared was when the Queen of England died.
Lots of parallels have been drawn between Pelé and royalty – he was the closest Brazil had.
According to BBC, supporters started gathering outside São Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital the previous afternoon when they heard news of Pele’s death.
Pelé had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. Knowing his condition was worsening, Brazilians had spent weeks reflecting on his life and legacy.
Many feel relieved his suffering is over – but he is an iconic sportsman who will be dearly missed.
The hospital issued a statement confirming his death from multiple organ failure connected to his cancer.
But in a reflection of his status, the hospital added it shared the suffering felt by the family and everyone over the loss of “our beloved King of football”.
At São Paulo’s Museum of Football, an exhibition was erected overnight to promote Brazil’s beloved King, even putting on display the football shirt he wore in 1970 when he scored the first goal against Italy and Brazil ultimately won. That was his third World Cup title, cementing his status as footballing legend.
“For us, he’s a national symbol who turned into an international symbol, who took our country to all corners of the world,” said Romulo Rezende Dias, who had come to see the display with his wife and three children.
“Brazil may not have a monarchy, but in football we have our King.”
Pelé was key to carving out space and recognition for black people in Brazilian football, his biographer Angelica Basthi has said, but he was never directly involved in the fight against racism.
While national mourning will last for three days, São Paulo state authorities have said their period of mourning will go on for a week. But really, Brazilians will mourn for much longer.
In Brazil Declares Three Days of Mourning for Football Legend Pele
The Government of Brazil, has declared three days of national mourning following the death of football legend, Pele, at age 82, in Sao Paulo.
This announcement was made by President Jair Bolsonaro, who would be ending his term in office on Sunday.
He declared three days of national mourning for this great footballer. He made a generous remark about the footballer in his statement.
“Pele was a great citizen and patriot, raising the name of Brazil wherever he went,” he said.
The president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reacted to this via his Twitter account that “few Brazilians carried the name of our country as far as he did”.
The last time national mourning was declared was when the Queen of England died.
Lots of parallels have been drawn between Pelé and royalty – he was the closest Brazil had.
According to BBC, supporters started gathering outside São Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital the previous afternoon when they heard news of Pele’s death.
Pelé had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. Knowing his condition was worsening, Brazilians had spent weeks reflecting on his life and legacy.
Many feel relieved his suffering is over – but he is an iconic sportsman who will be dearly missed.
The hospital issued a statement confirming his death from multiple organ failure connected to his cancer.
But in a reflection of his status, the hospital added it shared the suffering felt by the family and everyone over the loss of “our beloved King of football”.
At São Paulo’s Museum of Football, an exhibition was erected overnight to promote Brazil’s beloved King, even putting on display the football shirt he wore in 1970 when he scored the first goal against Italy and Brazil ultimately won. That was his third World Cup title, cementing his status as footballing legend.
“For us, he’s a national symbol who turned into an international symbol, who took our country to all corners of the world,” said Romulo Rezende Dias, who had come to see the display with his wife and three children.
“Brazil may not have a monarchy, but in football we have our King.”
Pelé was key to carving out space and recognition for black people in Brazilian football, his biographer Angelica Basthi has said, but he was never directly involved in the fight against racism.
While national mourning will last for three days, São Paulo state authorities have said their period of mourning will go on for a week. But really, Brazilians will mourn for much longer.
In Zurich, Switzerland, at the headquarters of FIFA, the world’s football governing body, the flags of all member nations were lowered to half-staff on Friday in honour of Pele.
“Flags at the home of FIFA in Zurich are flying at half-mast today, as we remember the eternal king: Pele,” the organization said on Twitter.
“Since the news was confirmed, the world of football has been united in their sadness and in sharing their memories and love of a man who was simply named ‘O Rei’ – The King,” FIFA said on its website.
Pele was named by FIFA as the greatest player of the 20th century. The Brazil legend is the only player to have won the World Cup three times.
