Brazilian great who is fighting colon cancer was honoured and remembered with numerous banners and shirts at Stadium 974. The fans bellowed out the Brazilian legend's name in unison like a hymn and unfurled a large banner with his image behind one of the goals in the 10th minute of each half in the game of Round of 16 against South Korea on December 5.
Gianinna Maradona, the daughter of Argentinian legend Diego Maradona, underscored the Brazilian team honouring Pele after the game. Taking to Instagram, she took a potshot at La Selección in her story for not following the lead of Brazil in honouring the Argentinian great and her father.
Argentina's largest newspaper Clarin reported that in her Instagram, Maradona’s daughter posted the image of Brazil’s homage to Pele. Clarin noted: “But she did it with an ironic message… a reproach to the Argentine national team for not doing the same to her father”.
As per the newspaper, there are tributes to Maradona in each game Argentina feature in and he is remembered in the 10th minute with applause and songs for him.
The Argentinian legend's daughter feels aggrieved after seeing the countless banners awash with Pele's name and pictures at Stadium 974 where he was honoured by a crowd packed to the rafters. The honours ranged from loud chants, banners and to the Brazilian football team not missing any chance to honour the Brazilian great.
The tribute became all the more special as Brazil thrashed South Korea 4-1 and sailed through to the semi-final against Croatia while their South American counterpart Argentina will be up against the Netherlands on December 7.
Pele watched Brazil thrash South Korea from the hospital. “Football is happiness. It’s a dance. It’s a true party,” Pelé had said at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo.
The former Brazilian football star is in stable condition and his health has not worsened in the last 24 hours.
The three-time world champion, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, "continues treatment and remains stable", said doctors as per a report by Xinhua news agency.
