More than 230,000 people gathered in front of Pelé's coffin in 24 hours, the Santos club, where the footballer built his legend, announced on Tuesday after the funeral wake.
"
That's more than 230,000 people, according to figures sent by the military police to the club.
“, told AFP a spokesperson for Santos FC, about the personalities and supporters who gathered in front of the open coffin of Pelé, exposed in the center of the stadium of the city of south-eastern Brazil.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gathered in Santos (southeast) on Tuesday morning in front of Pelé's coffin on display in the stadium of his first exploits, where tens of thousands of people have flocked since the day before.
Arrived near the stadium by helicopter, Lula immediately offered his condolences to Pelé's widow when he arrived under the large awning where the coffin is displayed.
Watch the videoFollow the last tribute to Pelé
The head of state then attended a brief religious ceremony in front of the remains of Pelé before the departure of a funeral procession in the streets of Santos, a major port in the state of Sao Paulo, then the burial.
According to AFP journalists present on the spot, the parade of fans continued uninterruptedly all day Monday, then all night.
According to TV Globo, some 150,000 people came to pay their last respects to the triple world champion.
“
There are many, many people.
It's magnificent, he deserves it
,” Katia Cruz, 58, a retired Santos FC fan, who stayed at the stadium until 1:30 a.m., told AFP.
But her husband, “
inconsolable
”, preferred to stay at home.
After mostly waiting in long lines, Pele fans from all over Brazil have been slowly and calmly advancing to the big canopy since Monday morning.
At the end of this funeral wake, which lasted 24 hours, the funeral procession must cross from 10:00 a.m. (13:00 GMT) Santos and will pass in particular in front of the house of Pelé's mother, Celeste Arantes.
Aged 100 but suffering from cognitive disorders, she is unaware of the death of her son.
The remains of Pelé will then be taken to his final resting place, a mausoleum specially erected in a cemetery, for a Catholic rite ceremony in strict family intimacy.
