Many had waited for hours overnight and come from all over the world, to file past the open casket of the footballing icon who was brought to his spiritual home of Santos for one final time.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento wasn’t born here, and he didn’t die here.
But for 19 seasons, Pele put this place on the map – so much so, the Brazilian government made him an official national treasure, so he couldn’t play anywhere else.
The return of a king to his beloved Santos was welcomed with flags, flares and fans singing his name even before the sun rose on a blisteringly hot day in the city.
Football icon Pele, the only player ever to win three World Cups, died on 29 December at the age of 82. A Catholic mass will be celebrated in Santos this morning before his burial at a nearby cemetery.
Transported to the pitch that made Pele a superstar, his home ground at Vila Belmiro had banners adorning the hoardings proclaiming “Viva O Rei” (long live the king) and shirts with his iconic number 10 hanging over every seat in one stand.
Placing him on the centre circle one last time was a little less smooth than fans might have been used to seeing in life, as the pallbearers had to move immaculately positioned chairs out of the way to make room to lift the open casket onto a plinth.
Those closest to him said their goodbyes, and his son Edinho said a prayer as they gathered together.
As the dignitaries started to arrive, they were led by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Speaking to reporters outside, he said: “We are going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums after Pele, because a hundred years from now when children are asking who Pele was, well, they need to remember him all over the world in a place where you score goals, where you feel emotion in a stadium, in a football field where children, boys and girls can play.
“And we need to make sure that this happens.”
The first fans to file past his coffin queued for hours overnight, desperate not to miss their chance as the doors opened at 10am to reflect on an incredible life.
Saulo, from rural Sao Paulo, lost his phone but wasn’t going to let that dampen his spirit.
He told Sky News it was worth it: “When I saw him lying there, I wished it wasn’t him, but that is the reality we are faced with today.
“There’s no question that man is Pele the King. He will live forever in our hearts and memories.”
Thousands had the same idea to make the pilgrimage, dressed in the iconic colours of Brazil or the black and white of Santos, and coming from all over the world.
One man who lives in New York, but who grew up in St Lucia told us: “Growing up when I played soccer, Pele was one of the first black people to be recognised as one of the greatest – and everybody on the island wanted to be Pele.”
We stopped an Englishman who was on holiday, who said: “It’s a terrible day for Brazil. I have grown up with football. I love football and I had to come here and share the sense of pride with everyone.”
Sky Sports
