Pele’s funeral: Brazil legend lying in state in Santos’ stadium

Many grievers lined up during that time to offer appreciation to Brazil legend Pele, who is lying in state at the stadium of his previous club Santos.

Pele’s final resting place is in the focal point of the pitch at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Sao Paulo, and fans have lined the roads to get into the ground.

There will be a parade through the roads of Santos from 12:00 GMT before confidential family internment.

Pele – a three-time World Cup winner – kicked the bucket at 82 on 29 December.

The world’s most prominent footballer, he had been getting therapy for colon disease since around 2021.

Brazil’s administration pronounced three days of public grieving after his demise, and the country’s new president – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – will head out to Santos to offer his appreciation as the 24-hour vigil attracts to a nearby.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino went to the dedication on Monday and said: “We will ask each country in the world to name one of their football stadiums after the name of Pele.”

‘There will be no other person like Pele’ – fans offer recognition

Many fans accumulated in the city as the funeral car conveying Pele’s final resting place showed up at the stadium on Monday.

Previous Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto and Pele’s child Edinho helped convey the casket, with botanical wreaths sent by Brazil internationals Neymar and Vinicius Junior and Genuine Madrid.

There were tears and adulation, and certain individuals tumbled to the ground in the love of the one who upset football and put Brazil on the map.

“I had the chance to see him playing in the stadium commonly,” Joao Paulo Machado, who lives in Santos, told BBC South America reporter Katy Watson.

“He’s the main minister of this country in the world, as I would like to think. Assuming that you travel abroad, the main thing individuals say is: ‘You are from Pele’s country.'”

Previous Santos FC president Marcelo Teixeira said Pele was a “fabulous individual”.

He added: “He had a liberal heart, not because he was the competitor of the 100 years. He generally took care of individuals in a truly earnest, humble way.”

Beatrice awakened at six AM to go with her better half from Soracaba to Santos and had been hanging tight for over two hours in the line.

“Still up in the air to offer my last appreciation to him,” the 56-year-old told the BBC.

Marcela Buono, a Santos local living in Miami, likewise got back to offer her appreciation.

“We grew up with him,” she said. “He used to go to the store here each day. That was typical as far as we were concerned. He was dependably incredible, giving signatures for the children. He was an astounding individual, a motivation.”

Wilson Genio lined with his 13-year-old child Miguel, conveying white roses and a Santos banner endorsed ‘To the family Genio, your companion Pele’.

The Genios had voyaged for the time being with the funeral wagon conveying Pele’s body from Sao Paulo.

‘The entire city is attracted to the stadium’

It is baking hot – around 30 degrees in Santos – yet the entire city is attracted to the core of Vila Belmiro stadium, where Pele’s casket lies.

A constant flow of grievers go through the middle to offer their last appreciation – sometimes, a sprinkling of praise breaks out as they pass his final resting place. Individuals from everywhere Brazil – and the rest of the world – have come. I spot a Mexican banner and a Dutch pin.

A few news helicopters are humming above. Individuals wear the striped, highly contrasting shirts of Santos Football Club – Pele’s group – or in Brazil’s public group yellow pullover.

Pele’s voice shoots over the stands in the stadium – his 2006 tune Meu Legado (My Heritage) is replaying again and again.

Outside the stadium, a line of thousands of snakes for kilometres across about six city blocks.

Men have removed their shirts to fold over their heads like handkerchiefs. Others are fanning themselves with the accolade paper printed only for the afternoon. Some have come arranged with caps, umbrellas and their accolades.

Some of the time, a Mexican wave swells through. There are incidental serenades of ‘Pele! Rei!’ Yet, most groups show restraint in intensity, trusting that their turn will bid farewell.