Funeral procession for Pelé begins after thousands visit 24-hour wake

The procession began on the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, residence of Pelé’s former membership Santos, and his coffin will probably be carried by means of the streets of the town of Santos, together with passing down the road the place Pelé’s 100-year-old mom, Celeste Arantes, lives.

It will proceed to the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery, the place a personal funeral will probably be held for members of the family.

The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
The casket of late Brazilian soccer nice Pele is draped within the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer membership flags as his stays are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, the place he laid in state, to the cemetery throughout his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The casket of late Brazilian soccer great Pele is draped in the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer club flags as his remains are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, where he laid in state, to the cemetery during his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
The casket of late Brazilian soccer nice Pele is draped within the Brazilian and Santos FC soccer membership flags as his stays are transported from Vila Belmiro stadium, the place he laid in state, to the cemetery throughout his funeral procession in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

The three-time World Cup winner died on Thursday on the age of 82 from a number of organ failure as a result of development of colon most cancers.

Tributes from around the globe have poured in ever since, with folks of all ages flocking to his 24-hour public wake, which started on Monday at Santos’ 16,000-seater stadium, popularly often known as “Vila Belmiro.”

More than 150,000 folks, many had been carrying Brazil’s iconic yellow jersey, had attended by Tuesday morning, based on Santos.

The coffin of Brazilian football legend Pelé leaves Vila Belmiro stadium  on January 03, 2023 in Santos, Brazil. Brazilian football icon Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, died on December 29, 2022 aged 82 after a battle with cancer in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The coffin of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé leaves Vila Belmiro stadium on January 03, 2023 in Santos, Brazil. Brazilian soccer icon Edson Arantes do Nascimento, higher often known as Pele, died on December 29, 2022 aged 82 after a battle with most cancers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Rodrigo Paiva/Getty Images)
Soccer fans line up to attend the funeral procession of late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at Vila Belmiro stadium where his wake was held in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
Soccer followers line as much as attend the funeral procession of late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at Vila Belmiro stadium the place his wake was held in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People wait in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele, the late Brazilian soccer great lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023
People wait in line to enter Vila Belmiro stadium the place Pele, the late Brazilian soccer nice lies in state in Santos, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

The doorways to the stadium closed with hundreds of mourners nonetheless in line and folks had been turned away, based on CNN groups on the bottom.

Thousands have now lined the streets to look at the Brazilian’s coffin go by.

Brazilian president Lula da Silva arrived on the wake on Tuesday morning with police safety “very much” strengthened to accommodate the President’s presence, Santos instructed CNN.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino travelled to Brazil to pay his respects on Monday.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, gives condolences to Marcia Aoki, widow of the late Brazilian soccer player Pele, during a wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, provides condolences to Marcia Aoki, widow of the late Brazilian soccer participant Pele, throughout a wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

“Pelé is eternal,” Infantino instructed reporters, per Reuters.

“FIFA will certainly honor the ‘king’ as he deserves.

“We have requested all soccer associations on the earth to pay a minute of silence earlier than each recreation and also will ask them, 211 international locations, to call a stadium after Pelé.

“Future generations must know and remember who Pelé was.”

Soccer fans cheer as they pay their last respects to the late Brazilian soccer great Pele during his wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023
Soccer followers cheer as they pay their final respects to the late Brazilian soccer nice Pele throughout his wake at Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A street vendor sells drinks as soccer fans line up to attend the funeral of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023
A avenue vendor sells drinks as soccer followers line as much as attend the funeral of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele on the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, early Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

For greater than 60 years, the identify Pelé has been synonymous with soccer. He performed in 4 World Cups and is the one participant in historical past to win three, however his legacy stretched far past his trophy haul and noteworthy goalscoring file.

“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” Pelé famously mentioned.

Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is broadly considered one of many best gamers in historical past and Brazil held three days of nationwide mourning following his demise.