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Published: 09:41, May 20, 2023 | Updated: 09:44, May 20, 2023
Pele rests in golden tomb in luxurious mausoleum in Sao Paulo
By Reuters
Published:09:41, May 20, 2023 Updated:09:44, May 20, 2023 By Reuters

Fans stand next to the tomb of the late Brazilian soccer great Pele, which became open to the public for the first time, at the mausoleum of Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil, on May 15, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

The memorial dedicated to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, is a luxurious mausoleum where the remains of the Brazilian idol rest in a solid gold coffin on the outskirts of Sao Paulo.

The tomb where "O Rei" was buried after his death at 83 from advanced colon cancer is on the first floor of the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica vertical cemetery, considered the highest in the world, located less than a kilometre from the Vila Belmiro stadium of his beloved club Santos.

The venue for Pele's tomb is expected to attract visitors from all over the world, turning the city of Santos into a tourist attraction

With a stadium-like setting, images of fans in the stands, synthetic turf on the floor and a small painted sky on the ceiling, the room where the three-time world champion is laid to rest features two life-size golden statues in addition to the gleaming coffin.

The golden tomb is adorned with a cross at the top and two panels on the sides, recreating the 1000th goal and the famous fist-in-the-air celebration he made when scoring at the Maracana stadium in 1969.

ALSO READ: Tributes flow as Brazil legend Pele turns 81

In the corners of the memorial hall are the only three jerseys worn by the Brazilian idol, the one from Santos, the Brazilian national team and the New York Cosmos, where he retired in 1977.

The tomb of the late Brazilian soccer great Pele stands in the mausoleum of Necropole Ecumenica Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil on May 15, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

The venue is expected to attract visitors from all over the world, turning the city of Santos into a tourist attraction, but at the moment only 60 people a day are allowed in, subject to registration.

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