The football world will continue to pay their respects to Pele at a funeral ceremony for the legendary forward in Sao Paulo today.
Pele, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, died at the age of 82 in December. Tributes have flooded in from the footballing community and beyond for a man widely considered to be one of the best - if not the best - to ever play the game.
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, whose term came to an end at the turn of the year, declared three days of national mourning after Pele's passing. A number of footballers past and present have shared tributes on social media, while a funeral reception and parade through Sao Paulo will allow many to pay their respects in person.
We will be providing live coverage throughout the day - with Andy Lines and Andy Stenning on the ground in Santos - so stay with Mirror Football for updates.
Pele's casket has arrived at the cemetery and has been carried inside. It started raining just as the fire engine arrived and now the stream of his procession has drawn to a close. Thanks for reading!
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The cortege has arrived outside of the vertical cemetery, with huge crowds gathered outside.
This is the vertical cemetery where a private ceremony will be held later this afternoon.
(Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)It is impossible to gauge the exact numbers at events such as these but one estimate suggests more than 200,000 paid their respects during the 24-hour vigil. And it looks like there are many, many more on the streets.
Pele is a hero in Santos, where he made his name (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Unsurprisingly the timetable has gone out the window as the procession moves slowly through the thousands and thousands of adoring fans.
(Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)The procession has been going for two hours and there are still thousands out on the streets to pay their respects.
The streets are packed with fans (Getty Images)Pele's coffin is being transported atop a fire engine through the streets of Santos.
It might seem strange to western eyes, but the fire engine is a tradition in Brazil. Indeed, Pele's Brazil teammate Garrincha, who died aged 50 in 1983, was also given a similar honour when he was taken through the streets of his birthplace, Rio de Janeiro.
Pele's coffin is being transported on a fire engine (Getty Images)The funeral procession is heading for the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery, where Pele will be laid to rest.
The world's tallest vertical cemetery waiting for arrival of Pele coffin. He will be laid to rest on the 9th floor - which overlooks the Santos stadium. His dad is in the same vault. @MirrorFootball pic.twitter.com/bRe7E2ldUw
— Andy Lines (@andylines) January 3, 2023
Mirror photographer Andy Stenning is in Santos, where he has captured some great pictures which show the esteem in which Pele is rightly held.
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Fans are celebrating Pele's life (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Pele played for Santos between 1956 and 1974 before moving to New York Cosmos at the end of his career.
Pele played his last game for Brazil in 1971, but he remains an inspiration to Brazilians to this day.
Thousands of fans are mourning Pele today (Getty Images)FIFA president Gianni Infantino has posted a lengthy statement on Instagram in which he defends himself following criticism of his behaviour at Pele's funeral yesterday.
Infantino was widely criticised after taking selfies near the Brazil legend's coffin. Here is what he's had to say.
The procession has now travelled along the promenade of Santos beachfront, where thousands have lined the streets.
Flags of Pele have been brought for the occasion (Getty Images)Pele is a Brazilian legend, so it's no surprise to see lots of Brazil flags on display in the crowds lining the procession route.
A fan waves a Brazilian flag as the coffin of Brazilian football legend Pelé is transported (Getty Images)The whole of Santos has stopped to celebrate the life of Pele.
People are watching from their windows (Getty Images)Former England striker Gary Lineker has bid his farewells to Pele.
Goodbye Pele. Thank you for everything you did for the game that you made so beautiful.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 3, 2023
Pele is being transported to his final resting place on a fire truck (Getty Images)There will be a particularly emotive point during this procession.
The coffin is due to go past the house of Pele's mother, 100-year-old Celeste Arantes, who is still alive.
Pelé with his mother Celeste Arantes in 1959 in Santos (Getty Images)There is plenty going on as Pele's coffin travels towards the Santos' Memorial Cemetery.
Fireworks are going off, fans are chanting, clapping and singing, while the police clear a path by using their sirens.
Santos and Brazil flags are waved for Pele (Getty Images)
Pele No10 shirts are everywhere in Santos (Getty Images)The Mirror's photographer, Andy Stenning, is on the ground in Santos.
Thousands have turned out for Pele (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)You can really get a sense of the atmosphere from his snaps.
There's a nice atmosphere along the procession route, with fans clapping and cheering as Pele's coffin passes.
There is a pleasant atmosphere along the route (Getty Images)As you would expect, there is a sizeable police presence for the procession, with police motorbikes and 4x4s riding at the front to clear a path.
Pele's coffin, draped in a Brazil flag, is on the top of a firetruck in the middle of the convoy.
Pele's coffin is on top of a firetruck (Getty Images)Streets have been closed for the procession, which is taking Pele from the Urbano Caldeira stadium to the Santos' Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Sao Paulo state.
An aerial shot of the Pele procession Pele won three World Cups with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970 - and fans want to say thank you to the great man.
Fans have lined the streets to see his coffin (Getty Images)Pele's coffin has been draped in a Brazil flag and is being transported on the top of a firetruck, to allow fans to pay their respects along the streets.
Pele's coffin has been draped in a Brazil flag (Getty Images)Brazil's new president, Lula, is in attendance.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L), accompanied by his wife Rosangela "Janja" da Silva at the procession (Getty Images)Cortège as it started to leave stadium. pic.twitter.com/lMqPdiIypy
— Andy Lines (@andylines) January 3, 2023
The football legend's coffin was carried out of the stadium and onto a firetruck for the procession.
Pele's coffin was transported for a procession (Getty Images)
The coffin has passed through Santos (Getty Images)Here is a flavour of the scenes in Sao Paulo.
Fans gathered outside the Urbano Caldeira stadium to pay their respects (Getty Images)
