Pele's iconic Brazil No.10 shirt was projected onto Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer to commemorate his one-year death anniversary.
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Brazil pay homage to Pele on death anniversaryLights up Christ the Redeemer with No.10 jerseyPope shares message for remembering the football legendWHAT HAPPENED?
Brazilians paid heartfelt tributes to the football icon on the first anniversary of his passing at the age of 82 due to colon cancer. The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro featured a projection of a Brazil shirt adorned with Pele's name and number 10, accompanied by a message from Pope Francis.
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Francis said in a statement: "Pelé, as Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento became globally known, was undoubtedly an athlete who showed in his life all the positive traits of a sportsman. The memory of ‘the King of Soccer’ remains indelible in the minds of many, and it stimulates new generations to seek in sport a means to strengthen the bonds of unity among us."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Museu Pele in Santos and Tres Coracies, Pele's birthplace, hosted religious ceremonies to honour the football legend's contributions to Santos FC and Brazilian football. FIFA also paid respects to Pele with a video showcasing highlights of his illustrious career, affirming that his legacy will endure in the hearts of football enthusiasts worldwide.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pele was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.