CNN
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The Brazilian began paying his final tribute to football great Pele during a 24-hour public appearance that began Monday at the Urbano Caldeira stadium, home of former football club Santos.
The wake was open to the public and mourners began entering the stadium on Monday morning.
On Tuesday, a funeral procession carries Pele’s coffin through the streets of the city of Santos, including past the street where Pele’s 100-year-old mother, Celeste Arantes, lives.
The procession continues to Pele’s final resting place, the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica Cemetery, where a private funeral will be held for his family.
Fireworks were greeted by a hearse carrying Pele’s coffin as he left Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. Pele died Thursday of multiple organ failure from advanced colon cancer.
The hearse was under heavy police escort as it made its way to the stadium where his coffin would be placed in the middle of the pitch.
Fans began lining the streets early Monday morning, many holding flags and banners with messages. “Olay” (“King”). “Pele, you are forever,” read a side of the highway.
Inside Santos’ 16,000-capacity stadium, many large banners hung across the stands, one reading “Long Live the King.”
Pele’s son, Edson Nascimento, posted a series of stories on Instagram about his trip to Santos.
“Bring our King home,” read what showed the convoy on the highway. Another reached out to a coffin with the caption, “We are home.”
Famous Brazilian players such as Romario and Neymar Jr. were also present, as well as club officials from Real Madrid and São Paulo FC.
According to CNN Brazil, Pele’s widow Marcia Aoki attended the wake and was seen hugging Edson Nascimento.
As the gates of remembrance opened, people of all ages flocked to the stadium, many wearing the iconic yellow jerseys worn by the Brazilian football team and Santos FC.
It was a solemn event, and many fans were overwhelmed with emotion as they headed to the ground in tears. The public entrance to the stadium was decorated with flowers and the Santos FC flag was flown at half-staff.
As fans sang along to the lyrics, Pele’s song Meu Legado (“My Legacy”) was repeated throughout the stadium from the moment his coffin entered.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was the first to arrive to pay his respects.
“Pele is forever,” Infantino told reporters, according to Reuters. “FIFA will rightfully honor the ‘King’.
“We have asked all football associations around the world to observe a moment of silence before every match and will ask that stadiums in 211 countries be named after Pele. Future generations will know who Pele is. We must know and remember what was.”
For over 60 years, the name Pele has been synonymous with football. He is the only player in history to win the World Cup on his four occasions and win three times, but his legacy goes far beyond trophy wins and an astonishing scoring record.
“Just as Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint, I was born to play football,” Pele famously said.
Born in Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, and his death was followed by a three-day national memorial service in Brazil.
Sports stars, politicians and musicians around the world pay tribute to the man who has become a global icon beyond sports.
