Pelé, the three-time World Cup winner, was honored with a 24-hour public wake at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Brazil, on January 2, 2023. The wake was open to the public, and mourners began entering the stadium Monday morning.
What happened?
The hearse carrying Pelé's coffin was greeted with fireworks as it left the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, where he died on Thursday from multiple organ failure due to colon cancer.
Why it matters for Pelé
Pelé's legacy stretched far beyond his trophy haul and remarkable goal-scoring record, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino saying, "Pelé is eternal."
What comes next?
A funeral procession will carry Pelé's coffin through the streets of Santos, including passing down the street where his 100-year-old mother, Celeste Arantes, lives.
The procession will continue to Pelé's final resting place, the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery, where a private funeral will be held for family members. Fans had already started lining the streets in the early hours of Monday morning, many holding flags or banners with messages for 'O Rei' ("The King").
Inside Santos' 16,000-seater stadium, a number of large banners had been placed throughout the stands, with one reading "long live The King." Pelé's son, Edson Nascimento, posted a series of stories on Instagram about the trip to Santos.
Famous Brazilians, including players such as Romário and Neymar Jr., and club officials from Real Madrid and São Paulo FC, were also in attendance. According to CNN Brasil, Pelé's widow Marcia Aoki attended the wake and was seen hugging Edson Nascimento.
People of all ages flocked to the stadium as the gates opened for the memorial, and many people were wearing the iconic yellow jersey worn by Brazil's football team and Santos FC jerseys. It was a somber occasion, and many fans were overcome with emotion, tears running down their faces as they made their way into the ground.
The stadium's public entrance was adorned with flower bouquets, and the Santos FC flag was flown at half-mast. The song Meu Legado ("my legacy"), sung by Pelé, was played on repeat inside the stadium from the moment his casket entered, as fans sang along to the words.
Among the first to arrive to pay their respects was FIFA president Gianni Infantino. "We have asked all football associations in the world to pay a minute of silence before every game and will also ask them, 211 countries, to name a stadium after Pelé," Infantino told reporters.
For more than 60 years, the name Pelé has been synonymous with football. He played in four World Cups and is the only player in history to win three. Brazil held three days of national mourning following his death on December 29, 2022.
Tributes have poured in from sports stars, politicians, and fans around the world. Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history.
"I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint," Pelé famously said.
"Pelé, you are eternal," read one banner by the side of the highway.
The wake and funeral procession are a testament to Pelé's enduring legacy in Brazilian football.
And so, the city of Santos came together to bid a final farewell to their beloved son, Pelé.
But the impact of his death will be felt for years to come.
So, the football world will continue to mourn the loss of this incredible athlete.
On January 2, 2023, the people of Santos and fans from around the world paid their respects to Pelé.
The outpouring of emotion was a clear indication of the significant impact he had on the sport.
As the funeral procession made its way through the streets, fans threw flowers and cheered in honor of Pelé.
The Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery, where Pelé will be laid to rest, is a fitting final resting place for this football legend.
And as the world says goodbye to Pelé, his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
Pelé's family, including his son Edson Nascimento and widow Marcia Aoki, were in attendance at the wake and funeral procession.
They were joined by famous Brazilians, including players such as Romário and Neymar Jr.
The Urbano Caldeira Stadium, where the wake was held, was filled with fans wearing the iconic yellow jersey worn by Brazil's football team and Santos FC jerseys.
The atmosphere was somber, with many fans overcome with emotion as they paid their respects to Pelé.
As the funeral procession came to a close, fans began to disperse, each carrying with them a memory of Pelé's incredible legacy.
The city of Santos will never forget their beloved son, and the football world will continue to mourn the loss of this incredible athlete.
On Tuesday, a private funeral will be held for Pelé's family members at the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery.
The funeral will be a final farewell to this incredible athlete, and a chance for his family to say goodbye.
The impact of Pelé's death will be felt for years to come, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
He will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in history, and his name will continue to be synonymous with football.
As the world says goodbye to Pelé, we remember his incredible achievements on the pitch, and the impact he had on the sport.
He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will never be forgotten.