Brazil says final farewell to 'King' Pele

Santos, Jan. 4: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led the tributes on Tuesday, January 3, as Brazil said its final farewell to football legend Pelé, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.

Lula, who took office on Sunday in a ceremony that started with a minute's silence for Pelé, traveled to the southeastern city of Santos to pay his respects to family and friends of Pelé.

Visibly moved, Lula and First Lady Rosangela "Janja" da Silva paused before Pelé's coffin and embraced his widow and other family members inside the Vila Belmiro stadium, home to Pelé's longtime club, Santos FC.

Tens of thousands of fans, political leaders and football dignitaries have filed through the stadium since the wake began Monday morning for the player known as "The King," who died Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.

After holding three days of national mourning, Brazil has been paying its last respects to the player known as "The King," who died Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.

The stream of mourners continued straight through the night at the 24-hour wake, which will be followed by a funeral procession and private interment later on Tuesday.

Pelé's coffin was carried into the stadium Monday morning by pallbearers dressed in black, led by his son Edinho. The late icon's widow, Marcia Cibele Aoki, his third wife, whom he married in 2016, cried before his open casket as she reached out to touch his head. She also placed a rosary in his coffin.

The casket was draped in the flags of Santos and Brazil and was surrounded by white flowers, including bouquets from the likes of Real Madrid or current Brazil star Neymar, whose father was in attendance. "Pele is eternal. He's a global icon of football," Infantino told journalists on Monday, saying football's governing body would ask all member countries to name a stadium in the player's honor.

Last parade

He went on to win the World Cup three times with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970 -- the only player in history to achieve the feat.

Tributes have poured in from around the world since his death, with a Who's Who of current and former football greats hailing his genius for the "beautiful game."

A stream of athletes, politicians, dignitaries and fans have traveled to Santos for the ceremony, though turnout may be dented somewhat by the New Year's holiday weekend.

Other tributes have come in from around Brazil. At the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio, a giant poster with Pele's image bears the word "eternal."

The funeral procession through Santos went past the house of Pele's mother, 100-year-old Celeste Arantes, who is still alive.

It ended at Santos's Memorial Cemetery, where a Catholic funeral service was held before Pele is interred in a special mausoleum. (AFP)