Pele lookalike pays his final respects to Brazilian soccer legend

Record ID: 1704876

  • Title: Pele lookalike pays his final respects to Brazilian soccer legend
  • Date: 2nd January 2023
  • Summary: SANTOS, BRAZIL (JANUARY 2, 2023) (REUTERS) PELE LOOKALIKE, NICANOR RIBEIRO, OUTSIDE VILA BELMIRO STADIUM RIBEIRO TAKING PHOTO WITH FAN IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PELE LOOKALIKE, NICANOR RIBEIRO, SAYING: "I arrived in the United States, without a beard, without glasses, I had had cataract surgery, the Americans saw me and said, 'excuse me, please, photo, Pele, Pele'. After some time, it was believed that I looked like Pele. I was in a very strong depression, and, on March 8, 2002, on Women's Day, I became a double of King Pele and I still am today.” RIBEIRO TAKING PHOTO WITH FAN RIBEIRO POSING FOR PHOTO WITH FAN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PELE LOOKALIKE, NICANOR RIBEIRO, SAYING: “I just came to express my gratitude to him, to the whole family, may God receive him with great affection, this person who has been working for humanity since he was seven years old.” RIBEIRO POSING FOR PHOTO WITH FAN
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2023 20:49
  • Keywords: Pele Vila Belmiro wake
  • Location: SANTOS, BRAZIL
  • City: SANTOS, BRAZIL
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001999402012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A Pele lookalike was among the scores of Brazilians paying their final respects to the late soccer great, as part of a 24-hour wake on Monday (January 2).
    Nicanor Ribeiro told Reuters he was first confused for Pele in the United States after eye surgery that saw him remove his beard and glasses. Ribeiro then took on the mantle of Pele lookalike in 2002.
    Dressed with a Santos FC jersey, Ribeiro was seen outside the stadium posing for photos with other mourners.
    Pele died on Thursday (December 29) at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer.
    On Tuesday (January 3), a procession carrying his coffin will pass through the streets of Santos, ending at the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis cemetery, where he will be buried in a private ceremony.
    (Production: Sergio Queiroz, Leandra Camera, Gloria Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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