Pelé, Brazil’s last goodbye: coffin on fire truck

Santos’ final salute to Brazilian legend Pelé

Brazil has said goodbye one last time to soccer legend Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, Pelé. The coffin with the Greenoro star’s body, after an all-day wake on Monday, was hoisted onto the fire truck and carried at a walking pace between two wings of crowds through the streets of Santos, the team city where the soccer legend played from 1956 to 1974.

The procession started from the Vila Belmiro stadium; Pelé was also carried in front of the home of the player’s 100-year-old mother, Dona Celeste. Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets, so much so that the procession continued very slowly. President Lula was also present at the ceremony.

Pelé will eventually be buried in the vertical cemetery overlooking the stadium itself-a private ceremony, with only family members present.