Sports

PHOTOS: Wake Begins For Football Legend Pele

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the wake of Brazilian football legend Pele at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. - Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

Brazil on Monday began paying its final respects to football legend Pele with a 24-hour wake at the stadium where he first took the world’s breath away with his exploits.

Gatekeepers News reports that hundreds of fans began filing into the Vila Belmiro, home to Pele’s longtime club, Santos on Monday morning.

The coffin bearing the remains of “O Rei” (The King) was displayed in the center of the field, before a funeral procession and private burial scheduled for Tuesday.

Also in attendance was FIFA President Gianni Infantino among other dignitaries.

Gatekeepers News reported that Pele died on December 29, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.

See photos from the wake below:

Fans of late Brazilian football legend Pele attend his wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / A woman attends the wake of Brazilian football legend Pele at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) speaks with sons of Brazilian football legend Pele, Kelly Cristina (L) and Edinho (C), during Pele’s wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Former Santos player Manoel Maria (L) hugs the son of Brazilian football star Pele, Edinho (R), during Pele’s wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

The daughter of Brazilian football legend Pele, Kelly Cristina (L), attends his father’s wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

The daughter of Brazilian football legend Pele, Kelly Cristina (R), attends his father’s wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Former Santos player Serginho Chulapa kisses Brazilian football legend Pele during his wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

The son of Brazilian football legend Pele, Edinho (3-L), prays with people during Pele’s wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

The wife of late Brazilian football legend Pele, Marcia Aoki, attends his wake at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the wake of Brazilian football legend Pele at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

Former President of the Supreme Federal Court Gilmar Mendes attends the wake of Brazilian football legend Pele at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) attends the wake of Brazilian football legend Pele at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 2, 2023. – Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Remi Ibikunle