Football icon Pelé fell asleep on December 29 after a long illness with cancer.
Now the Brazilian people will say goodbye to their hero.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the arena where Pelé’s coffin will be for 24 hours.
Just before New Year fell asleep Pele in, aged 82, after a long illness with cancer. And on Monday, the coffin left the hospital in Sao Paulo to instead be placed in the center circle at Santos’ home stadium Vila Belmiro, where Pelé spent most of his career.
14 hour queue
Outside the arena, masses of flowers have been placed in honor of the deceased national hero. At the same time, many people queued outside the arena overnight to say their goodbyes during the vigil. The five people who ended up at the front of the queue are expected to have queued for as long as 14 hours, and in total hundreds of thousands of Brazilians are expected to arrive during the day.
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For example, the Fifa president must Gianni Infantino attend. Also the former teammates from the WC 1970, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Gerson, is expected to be in place. The arena, which holds 16,000 spectators, is decorated with three large Santos flags with different motifs of Pelé. Among other things, a text that says “long live the king”.
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“Pele is eternal”
Santos club president Andres Rueda he has also expressed himself, and sends beautiful tributes to the club icon.
– Pelé did not die, Pelé is eternal and he will live in our hearts forever, says Rueda.
A procession will then take place through the streets of Santos on Tuesday. Pelé will then be buried in a very special mausoleum, where the ceremony will be held for the closest family members.
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