First nation accepts Gianni Infantino's proposal to name a stadium after Brazil legend Pele

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal for each country to name a stadium after late Brazil legend Pele has already been accepted by one nation.

Pele, who is regarded as one of the best players of all time, passed away in late 2021 at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The legendary Brazilian, who was 82 at the time of his passing, had been battling cancer and had previously suffered kidney and prostate problems.

The Santos legend was in hospital last September and required surgery to remove a tumour from his colon, with Pele subsequently being released from hospital.

Following Pele’s death in December, Infantino paid tribute to the three-time World Cup winner at his memorial service in Brazil.

The FIFA chief proposed at the memorial service that each nation should name a stadium after Pele, with African country Cape Verde agreeing to Infantino’s wishes.

Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva confirmed the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde is the venue chosen for the rebrand.

The 15,000-seat stadium, which hosts football matches for the Cape Verde national team, will be called ‘Pele Stadium’ in honour of the former New York Cosmos player.

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“As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as ‘Pele Stadium,’ in an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world,” Silva wrote on Facebook.

“With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, an icon of the masses showing that sport has the power to unite the world, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him.

“Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.

“Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”

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• Pele buried at cemetery that will look out over pitch that made him famous

Pele remains the only player to lift three World Cups in history, with the Brazilian influencing countless footballers in history.

The former Brazil international scored a staggering 618 times in 636 appearances for Santos, with Pele representing his country at four World Cup tournaments.