Pelé’s hometown in Minas is mourning the death of his illustrious son

Black cloths and flowers on the base of the statue mark the mourning in Três Corações (MG), the city where the king of football, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, was born, who died on Thursday (29) at the age of 82.

It was in the municipality of southern Minas Gerais where the idol was born and lived with his family until he was three years old. The announcement of the athlete’s death caused an increase in the number of visitors to Casa Pelé and Museu Pelé, two places in the city that gather memories of the illustrious son.

This Friday (30), there will be a mass at 7 pm in honor of the king at the Sagrada Familia parish church, the same where he was baptized. The mayor’s office declared a seven-day mourning period.

Until 2 pm, Casa Pelé had received 210 visitors — days before, only a few dozen people had passed through the place.

In addition to residents, the space attracted tourists who were in the region, such as retired Maria Francisca Santana Menezes, from Sergipe. “It seems that I went back to my origins, because I was born and raised in a small place, in a very simple house, so I was very emotional.”

For the king’s compatriot, Cristina Cury Menegucci, the space gives those interested the opportunity to get to know Pelé’s childhood and understand how he overcame difficulties. “He is an example for Tricordians and for all athletes because sport changes lives. What would his life be like without sport? And what would our life be like without the king?”, She asks.

Professor Maria Aparecida Machado regrets the loss of her countryman. “I was very saddened by this news. Pelé is a legend and all Tricordians are very shaken. There has never been a football player like him”.

The idol’s hometown holds different tributes to the athlete. Right at the entrance to Três Corações, on Rodovia Fernão Dias, a 12-meter-high statue depicts the famous “punch in the air” celebration of the 1970 World Cup. The work was designed by local artist Afonso Barra.

In the so-called Praça Pelé, there is yet another sculpture of the king. Another statue by Barra portrays the idol as a child next to his father Dondinho, whose name baptizes the park that houses the five-meter-high work.

At the Pelé Museum, a highlight is the exhibition of a replica of one of the player’s boots, in addition to copies of his birth and baptism certificates.

The municipality still has a copy of the house where Pelé was born. From the original, there was only a wagon that belonged to the player’s grandfather, who worked as a cart driver.

“We didn’t have any information about the house, we didn’t have a photo or any record, so we went to Santos and spoke with Pelé’s mother and uncle. the same structure as when the Nascimento family lived there”, says artist Fernando Ortiz, one of those responsible for creating the space.

At Praça Pelé, this Friday, some people took pictures with the statue of the king, like the personal Renan Gustavo Ferreira, from Bragança Paulista (SP). “Pelé’s death is a worldwide sadness”.

Michel Matheus Oliveira, a salesman who also plays football, talks about his passion for Santos, the club where the king made history, and consequently for the athlete who is the son of the city.

“Pelé has always been an inspiration and reference for me and for all the amateur soccer players in Três Corações. So, here, you can’t talk about soccer without talking about Pelé. It’s a very genuine connection with the king”.