Football legend Pele’s coffin was carried through the streets of Santos in Brazil as the public paid their last respects to the sports icon.
Thousands of fans gathered to watch the procession to say their final goodbyes to the three-time World Cup winner before his private burial.
The coffin, draped in a Brazilian flag, passed through the neighborhood where Pele’s 100-year-old mother lives as mourners gathered.
Former Santos FC star, originally named Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died Friday at the age of 82after a battle with colon cancer.
The star, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, will be buried today in the cemetery of the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis overlooking the Santos Stadium.
His dying wish was to choose the ninth floor of a cemetery in his home town – as a tribute to his father who wore the number 9 shirt as a player.
Brazil observed three days of national mourning after his death, as 230,000 people went to see his open coffin in the 16,000 seat stadium where he lay in state for 24 hours.
Photo: Marcello Zambrana/AGIF/AP
“Thank you for everything you have done for the game”
Football fans and sporting icons around the world have continued to pay tribute to the star.
Former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: “Goodbye Pele. Thank you for everything you have done for the game you have made so beautiful.”
Pelé’s coffin transported to the cemetery
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under fire for taking a selfie while visiting Pele’s coffin, which some critics on social media called “brazen”.
Mr Infantino defended his actions and said in an Instagram post that Pele’s teammates had asked to take a picture with him, adding he was “appalled” by the criticism.
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Thousands of fans line up to see hero Pele’s coffin
Pelé had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical center where he was treated said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
During his international career, he won three World Cups – in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – the only player to achieve this.
Nicknamed the “King of Football”, Pelé played for Santos from 1956 to 1974, scoring over 1,000 goals.
He has played most of his club career in Santos, a satellite city of Sao Paulo, where he grew up.
