Pele funeral : Thousands bid adieu to the football God

Thousands of people gathered in the Brazilian city of Santos to bid farewell to football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, who died at 82 from colon cancer. Pele will be buried on January 3 in the city where he grew up, became famous, and helped make it into the global capital of soccer.

Scores of football fans thronged in the Brazilian city of Santos to pay their last respects to football legend Pele. Credit: AP Photo

Pele's wake was being held at the Urbano Caldira Stadium, the home field of Pele's former team Santos, allowing fans to pay their last respects. Credit: AP/PTI Photo

Among those who attended were FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and the chief of South America's CONMEBOL football confederation, Alejandro Dominguez. Credit: AFP Photo

Pele's son Edinho shakes hands with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the funeral. Credit: Reuters Photo

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrives to pay his last respects to the football legend. Credit: AFP Photo

Fans waited more than three hours to view the casket, with the line at one point stretching some two kilometers. Credit: Reuters Photo

Former Santos player Manoel Maria hugs Edinho during the funeral. Credit: AFP Photo

Edinho pays tribute to his father. Credit: Reuters Photo

Former Santos player Serginho Chulapa kisses Pele during his funeral. Credit: AFP Photo

Hundreds of mourners queue to pay their respect to Pele. Credit: Reuters Photo

A mourner reacts after passing Pele's casket. Credit: Reuters Photo

Pallbearers carry Pele's casket to the centre circle of his former club Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium. Credit: Reuters Photo

Mourners walk past floral tributes as they queue to pay their respects at Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium. Credit: Reuters Photo