Pelé: Brazilian government orders three days of national mourning

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Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is lit up in the colors of the Brazilian flag in honor of Pele

Photo: Bruna Prado/AP

The Brazilian government has ordered a three-day national mourning after the death of soccer idol Pelé.

This was announced by outgoing President Jair Bolsonaros in a decree.

»Pelé, the king of football, was one of the greatest athletes of all time.

The only three-time world champion proved with his actions that he was not only a great athlete, but also a great citizen and patriot who made the name of Brazil known everywhere," the Brazilian government said in a statement.

»We mourn the loss of a man who brought the name of Brazil to the world through football.

He turned football into art and joy,” the far-right head of state had previously written on Twitter.

"May God comfort his family and receive him in his infinite mercy." Bolsonaro will leave office on Sunday, after which left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will take over the reins of government in Latin America's largest country.

Pelé died of cancer at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo on Thursday at the age of 82.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, as the striker's real name was, had a tumor removed from his colon last year.

After that, he had to have chemotherapy again and again, which, according to media reports, was no longer effective.

Pelé spent his last days in the hospital surrounded by his family.

The Brazilian was already a legend in his lifetime.

The world association Fifa named him – like the Argentinian Diego Maradona – a »player of the 20th century«.

Pelé played 92 international matches and won three World Cup titles with Brazil's national team (1958, 1962, 1970).

bbr/dpa