Pele, Brazil's king of soccer, was married Saturday in a ceremony befitting royalty.
A symphony orchestra played the wedding march as the 53-year-old Pele, who retired from competition in 1977 after a 20-year career, married Assiria Seixas Lemos, 34, in this coastal town 1,500 miles northeast of Rio.More than 170 state police guarded the couple and 300 guests at the Anglican Episcopal Church. Pele cried at one point during the 50-minute ceremony.
Major Everaldo Alves, the police chief, said the special operations in effect Saturday were "like the mobilization for a big soccer game." Police blocked off access to the ceremony and reception that followed to keep fans at a distance.
The public, however, would be included later when a Carnival band atop a sound wagon saluted the newlyweds on the Recife shore line.
Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, led Brazil to World Cup championshipss in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He is now a sports commentator and successful businessman.
Lemos, a psychologist, lived for the past 15 years in the United States and the two met there 10 years ago. Both are divorced.