Christ the Redeemer was decorated with the number “10” in honor of Pele on the first anniversary of his death.

Peleconsidered by many to be the best footballer of all time, was remembered this Friday with various tributes Brazil on the first anniversary of his death.

In memory of “O Ray” who died in Sao Paulo December 29, 2022 at the age of 82 years for colon cancergreen and yellow lights decorated the symbolic statue Christ the Redeemerlocated at the top Corcovado Hill.

The tribute included a religious celebration at which a written message from Pope Francis.

“The memory of the ‘King of Football’ remains indelible in the minds of many and encourages new generations to look to sport as a means of strengthening the bonds of unity among all,” the letter signed by the leader said Catholic Churchaccording to a copy reproduced on the sports website. gee.

The Pope assured that Christian virtues such as perseverance and perseverance are essential to sports, and that well-practised sports, as Pele did, serve to strengthen the bonds of true friendship and brotherhood between people and between cities.

“That is why I want to unite spiritually with this gesture of tribute, sending the participants my blessing and my request to everyone that they do not stop praying for me,” concludes the letter read in tribute, enlivened by the presentation Rio de Janeiro Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The Seleção’s amazing number ten, the only footballer to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), was also celebrated with a mass this afternoon at the museum dedicated to his career in Santos.

The same city saw him grow and shine in the club’s white jacket. The Saintsat whose stage Villa Velmiro It was veiled.

The star’s remains are in a mausoleum in the port city, opened last May and visited by thousands of fans.

This Friday, Edinhoone of Pele’s seven children, released a dozen white balloons in Santos’ midfield as a tribute to the man widely considered the best footballer of all time, according to images broadcast by the club on its networks.

“A year without Edson, because Pele is eternal. We feel your absence every day,” reads a message published on the institution’s networks along with a photo of their idol.

With this Sao Paulo club, Edson Arantes do NascimentoPelé won most of his trophies, including six championships, two Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups.

Earlier this month, on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of their idol, Santos were relegated to the second division of Brazilian football for the first time in their century-long history.

The club then decided to ban the use of the number “10” during Serie B play.

A religious ceremony was also held in the footballer’s hometown of Tres Coracos in the state of Minas Gerais (southeast), in the same temple where he was baptized.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) remembered the “greatest man of all time” in the note and emphasized his “charisma and greatness.”

In addition, he emphasized that after his death, stadiums were named in his memory, including seven outside Brazil, such as in Colombia.

Several monuments to the historical Pele have been unveiled this year, such as a statue on a pier bearing his name in the Sao Paulo city of Sao Vicente.

FIFA also made reference to the date: “One year since we said goodbye to a legend,” said a post on its networks accompanying the image of Pelé.

The life of the Brazilian, who scored 1,282 goals according to the CBF and was the first black player to excel in world football, is documented in Sao Paulo’s State Public Archive, which compiles historical records from diaries and other images.

(According to AFP)