SANTOS, Brazil – Mourners began to pay their respects to Pele on Monday in a procession past his casket at the Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, his hometown.
The Brazilian football great died on Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.
Pele’s coffin was placed on the field where he scored the best goals of his career. Mourners, including Pele’s wife Marcia Aoki, filed past his casket at the 16,000-seat stadium outside Sao Paulo. His funeral will be held on Tuesday at a cemetery just 600 meters away.
Early Monday morning, fans came to the stadium to honor Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known throughout the world as Pele.
Marcia Aoki, the widow of Brazilian great Pele, mourns his body as it lies in state on January 2, 2023 in Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, Brazil.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) welcomes Marcia Aoki (R), wife of Brazilian soccer legend Pele, at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium on January 2, 2023.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) welcomes Marcia Aoki (R), wife of Brazilian soccer legend Pele, at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium on January 2, 2023.
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One of them was Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Gilmar Mendes.
“It is a very sad moment, but we are now seeing the true meaning of this legendary player for our country,” Mendes told reporters. “In my office, there are t-shirts with Pele’s signature, his photo as a goalkeeper and his signature as well. DVDs, photos, his vast collection.’
Funeral workers lay the coffin of late Brazilian football great Pele on the field during a wake at the Vila Belmiro Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Santos, Brazil.
Brazilian great Pele’s coffin is displayed on the grounds of the Vila Belmiro stadium on January 2, 2023 in Santos, Brazil.
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Edinho touches the forehead of his father, Brazilian great Pele, during his funeral at Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, Brazil on January 2, 2023.
The casket with Brazilian great Pele is raised on the grounds of the Vila Belmiro stadium on January 2, 2023 in Santos, Brazil.
Brazilian great Pele’s casket is carried into Vila Belmiro Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Santos, Brazil.
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Mourners pay their respects as they walk past the casket of Brazilian legend Pele as he lies in state at his former club Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium on January 2, 2023.
Mourners line up outside the stadium to pay their respects to Pele on January 2, 2023.
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Mendes also said that despite his global fame, Pele is a humble person and deserves all the respect he can get.
Before Pele’s burial, his casket is carried through the streets of Santos. Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and other dignitaries are expected to participate in it.
Pele died on Thursday at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer.
Pele celebrates winning the 1970 World Cup with his Brazilian teammates.
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Pele had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he was admitted to the hospital said he died of multiple organ failure due to the cancer.
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