Brazil is preparing to bury soccer legend Pele in Santos

Although it has been 45 years since the legend Pele played his last matches as a player, it is difficult to imagine modern football, or Brazil, without him.

Pele will be buried today, Tuesday, in the city where he grew up and became famous, and helped turn it into the capital of world football.

A Catholic mass will be held at the "Vila Belmero" stadium, before the coffin is carried through the streets of Santos to a nearby cemetery.

New Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in last Sunday, is expected to attend Villa Belmero shortly before the coffin is removed from the stadium.

Pele died last Thursday at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer, the only player to win the World Cup three times.

Thousands of mourners, including high school students and Supreme Court justices, stood on Monday in front of Pele's body in the century-old stadium where Pele made his hometown club one of the best in Brazil.

Pele's coffin, draped with the flags of Brazil and Santos, was laid in the middle of the Villa Belmiro stadium.

The stadium, which seats 16,000, was surrounded by fans and covered with decorations inspired by Pele's career.

Brazilians leaving the stadium said they had waited three hours in a long line under the scorching sun to say goodbye to Pele.

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