Gianni Infantino, FIFA president has revealed that the world governing football body will ask every country in the world to name a stadium after Pele.
This gesture to Gianni Infantino will serve as a way to honor the legendary football player and for upcoming generations to know about his legacy.
The Brazilian icon died aged 82 last week leaving the whole of the footballing world mourning.
Speaking as Pele’s funeral began in Santos on Monday, Infantino said: “We are going to ask that all countries in the world have at least one stadium with the name of Pele.”
Infantino continued that the reason behind this idea would be ‘so that children know Pele’s importance’.
An emotional Brazil began paying its respects to football legend Pele today, as his coffin arrived at the stadium where he first took the world’s breath away.
Hundreds of fans began filing into the Vila Belmiro, home to Pele’s longtime club Santos, where the open casket bearing the body of ‘The King’ was displayed at the centre circle this morning.
The casket, which was placed under an awning and surrounded by bouquets of white flowers, will remain there for 24 hours.
Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
During his more than 20 years as a professional footballer, Pele also amassed over 1,200 career goals.
It is unlikely that Infantino’s idea to name all these stadiums after Pele will be particularly well received.
This is the latest public comment from Infantino, who wants to remain president until 2021, to have raised eyebrows.
Pele is the only footballer to have won three World Cups, winning in 1958, 1962 and 1970
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