Pele funeral live updates: Brazil football legend laid to rest after thousands line streets

Pele funeral - live updates

Brazilian football great Pele, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was this afternoon in Santos laid to rest at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenical cemetery in a ceremony attended by just family.

It followed a procession through the city where Pele made his name, with his coffin having been lying in state inside the stadium during three days of national mourning announced last week by the Brazilian government. Long queues had formed outside the stadium, with some fans waiting overnight for their opportunity to bid farewell to a player many consider the best to have ever lived.

Pele, who died on December 29 after a battle with cancer, reportedly chose his final resting place on the ninth of the vertical ceremony, allowing him to watch over the Santos stadium. Follow the latest updates from Santos as Brazil pays tribute to and lay to rest their greatest footballer.

Pele funeral latest updates

• Ceremony to start at 1pm GMT

• Brazil president Lula arrives

• Procession begins journey

• Thousands line the streets

• Pele arrives at cemetery

Tuesday 3 January 2023 18:02 , George Flood

Pele’s body has arrived at its final resting place on the ninth floor of the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, a vertical cemetery that overlooks the Santos football pitch.

He was carefully lowered from that fire engine and pallbearers took the coffin inside the building.

A hugely emotional day for Brazil and the wider football world. Goodbye to a king.

He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony just attended by family.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:26 , Alex Young

Pele is approaching the cemetery.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:28 , Alex Young

Much-criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino has released a long statement after attending Pele’s wake yesterday.

He appeared to take a selfie next to the casket, which did not go down well with some.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:06 , Alex Young

A touching tribute from Gary Lineker.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:59 , Alex Young

The atmosphere is a somber one, but still plenty of singing in celebration of the great man. There have been reports of fireworks along the route.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:42 , Alex Young

Thousands in tears as Pele nears his final resting place.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:24 , Alex Young

Pele’s 102-year-old mother, Dona Celeste, is waiting for her son.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:08 , Alex Young

Further footage of the cortege.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 14:00 , Alex Young

Pele’s casket is now winding through local neighbourhoods.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:46 , Alex Young

Thousands lining the procession route.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:40 , Alex Young

Pele’s coffin has been placed onto a fire truck as it begins a journey through Santos, including past the house of his 102-year-old mother Dona Celeste.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:24 , Alex Young

Pele’s body is now being moved from the centre circle.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:21 , Alex Young

Pele’s body should soon be on the move as a proccession through the city, and towards the cemetery where he will be buried, begins.

Admittance to the wake has now been stopped.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 13:06 , Alex Young

It is estimated that more than 150,000 people, including President Lula da Silva, will have paid their respects to Pele in Santos, filing past Pele's open casket at the Vila Belmiro stadium to bid a final farewell.

A 24-hour memorial service for Pele, who died last week at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer for a year, started at 10am local time on Monday and will conclude today, after around 24 hours of morning.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:51 , Alex Young

Brazil president Lula da Silva greets Pele’s wife, Marcia Aoki, at today’s wake.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:43 , Alex Young

Neymar is unable to attend today’s funeral, so his father is attending in his son’s absence.

The Brazilian No.10 is reportedly unable to make the trip to Santos at short notice.

“Neymar will not be able to attend Pelé’s funeral,” Neymar Santos Sr revealed. “My son asked for me to come here in his absence.”

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:40 , Alex Young

Brazil president Lula da Silva has arrived to pay his respects.

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:33 , Alex Young

Former Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto and Pele's son Edinho were among those who placed his coffin on the pitch during a ceremony before fans and well-wishers were allowed to pay their respects.

Long queues had formed outside the stadium, with some fans waiting overnight for their opportunity to bid farewell to a player many consider the best to have ever lived.

Brazil's government had declared three days of national mourning after Pele's death last week.

Brazil president in town

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:18 , Alex Young

Brazil president Lula da Silva, who was sworn in just yesterday, is expected to attend today’s memorial.

Lying in state

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:08 , Alex Young

Pele is due to be buried later today after thousands of fans waited to pay their respects as his coffin lay in state at the home of his former club Santos.

The three-time World Cup winner, who scored over 1,000 goals in his career, died on December 29 aged 82 after a battle with cancer.

On Monday, his coffin was placed on the centre circle of the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Sao Paulo, ahead of a private burial on Tuesday.

Pele has reportedly chosen a burial site on the ninth floor of a nearby cemetery which will allow him to watch over the Santos stadium.

Welcome

Tuesday 3 January 2023 12:00 , Alex Young

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live coverage of the funeral of Brazilian football great Pele.

Full name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, he passed away on December 29, aged 82, after a battle with cancer.

The country has been in mourning since and today will pay their final respects to the man many consider the greatest footballer of all time.