Brazil: 24 hours of public vigil in tribute to the legendary Pelé

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Brazilian football legend Pele to the central circle of the Vila Belmiro stadium of his former club, Santos, where he will lie in state for 24 hours before his funeral.

REUTERS - RICARDO MORAES

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Brazilians bid farewell to King Pelé, and to pay homage to him, what more symbolic enclosure than that of the Santos stadium in the state of Sao Paulo, where Pelé played from 1956 to 1974 and gradually forged his legend.

The icon's body arrived in the city on Monday morning before being placed in the center of the lawn for a 24-hour public vigil.

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With our special correspondents in Santos,

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The sun is already very hot above the Vila Belmiro district, but the queues are getting longer in front of entrance number 2 of the Santos club, the one reserved for people who want to personally pay their last respects to Pelé.

Some have been waiting since Sunday evening at the gates of the stadium which has seen this footballer and his legend grow.

At the door reserved for personalities, a crowd of Brazilian and foreign reporters watching the comings and goings.

We expect the president of Brazil, Lula, but also the president of the International Football Federation, Fifa, Gianni Infantino.

► See also:  

The hearse carrying the body of Brazilian football legend Pelé arrives at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, where his funeral will take place, Monday, January 2, 2023. AP - Matias Delacroix

"

We have come home

" 

Pelé's body arrived in the middle of the night from Sao Paulo in a funeral vehicle.

Santos supporters and onlookers were in the street to welcome the procession, greeted by applause and firecrackers.

Relatives of King Pelé accompanied the coffin, such as his son Edinho, who wrote on social networks: "

".

► Read also: Brazilians bid farewell to legendary footballer Pelé

The body of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé is pictured in his coffin on the lawn of the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, his former club.

REUTERS - RICARDO MORAES

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