Football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, otherwise known as Pele, has been buried in the World’s Tallest Vertical Cemetery, the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos, the South-Eastern port city where the Brazilian played most of his matches in his illustrious career.
The casket bearing the body of the late Brazil football legend, Pele, was draped in the Brazilian flag, as the body was moved round major streets before his burial yesterday in Sao Paulo.
The casket left Santos’ stadium on a fire engine for the procession with thousands of mourners and fans lining the streets. Pele was laid in the vault at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, just half a mile away from the stadium that made him famous.
Pele chose to be buried on the ninth floor of the world’s tallest, vertical cemetery. His fans believe that this resting place will mean Pele can watch over his favourite football pitch for eternity.
The vertical cemetery was built in 1983, and has more than 14,000 vaults. It has a tropical garden, restaurant and even a classic car museum.
The football world paid also their respects to the legendary forward in Sao Paulo.
Pele, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, died at the age of 82 in December 2022.
