With lots of gold and artificial turf: Pelé's tomb becomes a place of pilgrimage

Almost five months after Pelé's death, the Brazilian football legend's tomb was opened in the port city of Santos.

16 May 2023

From: dpa

“It was done with a lot of love by people who knew him and lived with him. So it has the essence of what he was," said Pelé's son Edinho at the opening of the room in the cemetery high-rise "Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica", as the Brazilian news portal said G1 reported on Monday (local time). “It’s very classy, very simple and pleasant.”

Pelé died of cancer on December 29th at the age of 82. After three days of national mourning and a 24-hour wake at the stadium of his long-time club FC Santos, the three-time world champion was buried on January 3rd.

Two golden statues now welcome visitors to the mausoleum, whose floor is covered in artificial turf and whose walls feature cheering Santos spectators. Important moments in Pelé's career can also be seen. The tomb was designed by the Argentine entrepreneur José Salomon Altstut, who died in 2018. Fans who want to visit can register for free on the cemetery's website.

Pelé's son Edinho visiting the mausoleum. © ANSA / Sebastiao Moreira

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, as the striker's full name was, shaped football like no other and was already a legend during his lifetime. The world association FIFA named the Brazilian – like the Argentine Diego Maradona – “Player of the 20th Century”. In 92 international matches, Pelé scored 77 goals for the Brazilian national soccer team.