On the second floor of a vertical cemetery in Santos, Brazil, the mausoleum of the legendary football player Pelé, who died in December 2022, was opened.
At the entrance to the mausoleum, fans are greeted by two golden statues of Pele. The memorial itself is designed in the style of the stadium. The floor is made of artificial grass, the walls are decorated with images of fans in the stands, and on the walls, there is a photo with hordes of cheering spectators. The coffin with the body of Pele occupies the central place. The football player lies in a coffin of pure gold, and above him is a ceiling in the form of a cloudless sky.
According to the plans, the mausoleum was to be built on the ninth floor, overlooking the Vila Belmiro stadium of the Santos club, where Pele played for 18 years. Instead, the family buried him on the second floor to make it easier for fans to honor the memory of the great athlete.
“All this was done with great love by the people who knew him, who lived with him. The memorial reflects the essence of what it was,” one of Pele’s sons shared his impressions. The mausoleum contains memorabilia of the footballer, including the form of Brazil and Santos, in which the player played, writes the Daily Mail. Only 60 fans who have booked a place in advance can visit the mausoleum per day.
Pele is the best football player of the 20th century according to FIFA, World Soccer, and France Football, as well as the best athlete of the 20th century according to the IOC. This is the only player to win the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, 1970). For Brazil, Pelé scored 77 goals in 92 games. The record stood for over 50 years. In the final tournaments of the World Cup, he played a total of 14 matches and scored 12 goals.