SANTOS, Brazil (AP) 鈥 Brazil said a final farewell to Pel茅 on Tuesday, burying the legend who unified the bitterly divided country.
Newly inaugurated President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pel茅 played for most of his career.
Pel茅 died last week at age 82 and was laid to rest in Santos, the city where he became famous after moving there at age 15 to play for Santos FC. The funeral Mass was held at the team's Vila Belmiro stadium before his black casket was driven through the streets of the of Santos in a firetruck.
It was taken into the cemetery as bands played the team's official song and a Roman Catholic hymn. Before the golden-wrapped casket arrived, attendees sang samba songs that Pel茅 liked.
Some Brazilian soccer legends weren't there.
鈥淲here鈥檚 Ronaldo Nazario? Where鈥檚 Kak谩, where鈥檚 Neymar?" asked Claudionor Alves, 67, who works at a bakery next to the stadium. "Do they think they will be remembered like Pel茅 will? These guys didn鈥檛 want to stop their vacations, that鈥檚 the problem.鈥
Geovana Sarmento, 17, waited in a three-hour line to view Pel茅's body as it lay in repose. She came with her father, who was wearing a Brazil shirt with Pel茅鈥檚 name.
鈥淚 am not a Santos fan, neither is my father. But this guy invented Brazil鈥檚 national team. He made Santos stronger, he made it big, how could you not respect him? He is one of the greatest people ever, we needed to honor him,鈥 she said.
Caio Zalke, 35, an engineer, wore a Brazil shirt as he waited in the line.
鈥淧el茅 is the most important Brazilian of all time. He made the sport important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,鈥 Zalke said.
Pel茅 in the 1960s and 1970s was perhaps the world鈥檚 most famous athlete. He met presidents and queens, and a civil war in Nigeria was put on hold so people could watch him play. Many Brazilians credit Pel茅 with putting the country on the world stage for the first time.
Rows of shirts with Pel茅鈥檚 No. 10 were placed behind one of the stadium's goals, waving in the city鈥檚 summer winds. A section of the stands filled up with bouquets of flowers placed by mourners and sent by clubs and star players 鈥 Neymar and Ronaldo among them 鈥 from around the world as loudspeakers played the song 鈥淓u sou Pel茅鈥 (鈥淚 am Pel茅鈥) recorded by him.
The crowd was mostly local, although some came from far away, and many mourners were too young ever to have seen Pel茅 play. The mood was light, as people filtered out of the stadium to local bars, wearing Santos FC and Brazil shirts.
Claudio Carran莽a, 32, a salesman, said: 鈥淚 never saw him play, but loving Pel茅 is a tradition that goes from father to son in Santos. I learned his history, saw his goals, and I see how Santos FC is important because he is important. I know some Santos fans have children supporting other teams. But that鈥檚 just because they never saw Pel茅 in action. If they had, they would feel this gratitude I feel now.鈥
Among those at the stadium was Pel茅鈥檚 best friend Manoel Maria, also a former Santos player.
鈥淚f I had all the wealth in the world I would never be able to repay what this man did for me and my family,鈥 Maria said. 鈥淗e was as great a man as he was as a player 鈥 the best of all time. His legacy will outlive us all. And that can be seen in this long line with people of all ages here.鈥
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists that every country should name a stadium after Pel茅.
鈥淚 am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he gave us so many smiles,鈥 Infantino said. 鈥淎s FIFA, we will pay a tribute to the 鈥楰ing鈥 and we ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.鈥
Another fan and friend in line was Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.
鈥淚t is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country,鈥 Mendes told journalists. 鈥淢y office has shirts signed by Pel茅, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him.鈥
Pel茅 had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he had been hospitalized said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
Pel茅 led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and remains one of the team鈥檚 all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pel茅鈥檚 record during this year鈥檚 World Cup in Qatar.
___
AP soccer: and
