Legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé on Monday began lying in state at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Sao Paulo, the stadium of his former club Santos, where thousands of mourners are paying their respects.
His coffin was placed in the circle of the pitch where his body will remain for 24 hours.
Thereafter, a procession through the streets to the home of Pelé's 100-year-old mother will follow, before he is buried at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenical on Tuesday.
The celebrated footballer and three-time World Cup winner died on December 29 at the age of 82.
Following his death, the Brazilian government declared three days of national mourning.
Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes was among the mourners who came to pay their respects.
"It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the real meaning of this legendary player to our country," Mendes told journalists.
"My office has shirts signed by Pele, a picture of him as a goalkeeper, also signed by him. DVDs, photos, a big collection of him."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was at the memorial, said that the FIFA governing body will ask all countries to name one of their stadiums after the footballing icon.
"Pele had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped, Infantino said.
"His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, South America, and across the world. His legacy is impossible to summarise in words."
“We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele,” the FIFA president said.
Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, confirmed the news on Instagram, writing: "Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
According to Pele's sister, Maria Lucia do Nascimento, their mother still “doesn’t know the situation” and remains “in her own world” with little awareness about the news.
As the hearse arrived at Santos' ground on Monday morning, thousands of people were on the streets waiting, some waited overnight to see the coffin.
According to a South American football journalist, Tim Vickery Pele's funeral was "going to be a huge global occasion".
Vickery told Radio 5 Live: "Pele is a source of huge pride for Brazil. He is not from Santos but it is a city that he made his home, and he is theirs - but he also belongs to the world."
Brazilian journalist Ricardo Seyton, who had worked closely with the Brazil football superstar, noted that the day was going to be "intense".
"It is the people of the streets, the public, who are making this day so beautiful."
"It is amazing to see people in football shirts from all around the world - that is the legend of Pele," Seyton told Radio 5 Live.
Various activities commemorating Pele's passing were held at all Premier League football matches this past weekend.
Sports.
Comments