Thousands of mourners queued through the night to pay respects to Brazil legend Pele, at his lying in state at the stadium of his former club Santos.
A procession was held through the streets of Santos on Monday while a private family burial will be held on Tuesday.
Pele – a three-time World Cup winner – died at the age of 82 on 29 December after a long battle with colon cancer.
Thousands of fans gathered on the streets as the hearse carrying Pele’s coffin arrived at the stadium on Monday.
Former Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto and Pele’s son Edinho helped carry the coffin, with floral wreaths sent by Brazil internationals Neymar and Vinicius Junior, and Real Madrid.
There were tears and applause, and some people fell to the ground in worship of the man who revolutionised football and made Brazil famous.
“I had the opportunity to see him playing in the stadium many times,” Joao Paulo Machado, who lives in Santos, told BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson.
“He’s the number one ambassador of this country in the world, in my opinion. If you travel abroad, the first thing people say is: ‘You are from Pele’s country.'”
Pele’s body being carried to lie in state at Santos’ stadium for 24 hours for the public to pay their respects
Former Santos FC president Marcelo Teixeira said Pele was a “fantastic human being”.
He added: “He had a generous heart, not just because he was the athlete of the century. He always looked after people in a really sincere, humble way.”
Beatrice woke up at six in the morning to travel with her husband from the city of Soracaba to Santos and had been waiting for more than two hours in the queue.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino attended the memorial
“I’m determined to pay my final respects to him,” the 56-year-old told the BBC.
Marcela Buono, a Santos native who now lives in Miami, also returned to pay her respects.
“We grew up with him,” she said. “He used to go to the supermarket here every day. That was normal for us. He was always fantastic, giving autographs to the kids. He was an amazing person, an inspiration.”
The city of Santos paid final tributes to its hero Pele, who played 656 competitive matches for the club
Wilson Genio queued with his 13-year-old son Miguel, carrying white roses and a Santos flag signed ‘To the family Genio, your friend Pele’.
The Genios had travelled overnight with the hearse carrying Pele’s body from Sao Paulo.
Read Also: BREAKING: Brazilian Soccer Legend Pele Dies At 82
