Pele is set to be honoured in Brazil with a statue at Congress and could have Maracana named after him

FOOTY legend Pele is to get a statue at the Brazilian Congress, The Sun can reveal.

Known as “O Rei” or the King of Football, Edson Arantes do Nascimento died aged 82 last month after battling colon cancer.

The whole of Brazil observed three days of national mourning following his passing.

Now the three-time World Cup winner’s business manager says the country’s authorities are preparing to honor him with a statue at the National Congress building in Brasilia.

Joe Fraga, 51, told The Sun: “There’s a conversation of putting a statue of him in the legislative area in Brasilia where they have other statues.

“We’re talking with the Secretary of State who deals with those matters.

“Pele is one of the most iconic people that ever lived on the planet and the biggest ambassador Brazil has ever had.

“I don’t think there’s ever going to be anyone bigger than Pele to represent Brazil.

“They’re also talking about naming the Maracana field in Rio de Janeiro after him and putting his face on a coin or maybe even a bill.

“I don’t know what denomination it would be, we are just in the infancy of that conversation.

“The government has approached me about a tribute stamp too.”

Fraga said he has also been contacted by the local governments of Sao Paulo, Santos – where Pele made his name as a player – and Gaurujá where he lived regarding statues and the naming of parks after Pele.

Earlier this month Pele was laid to rest at Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium.

Some 230,000 mourners including the new Brazilian president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva filed past his coffin to pay their respects.

A huge mass was held at the stadium before the coffin was draped in a Brazil flag guarded by army soldiers this morning for the procession through the city.

Pele’s coffin was carried through the streets and passed in front of the home of his 100-year-old mother, Celeste.

The burial took place at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos and only his family attended.

Pele is said to have chosen the burial site on the ninth floor of the cemetery to allow him to “watch over” the Santos stadium.

His final resting place is in a “vertical cemetery” in a 14-floor building that includes 14,000 vaults, a waterfall and a car museum.

Pele burst onto the global stage in 1958 and helped Brazil win back-to-back World Cups four years later.

His success in 1970 ensured he became and remains the only person to win three World Cup tournaments as a player.

At club level Pele enjoyed 18 years at Santos, the team he made his debut for aged 15.

Overall, he scored a staggering 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies, which is recognised as a Guinness World Record.

He also managed a remarkable 77 goals in 92 games for the Brazilian national team.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk