Pele laid to rest after Brazil bids farewell

STORY: From rousing cheers to tearful goodbyes.

Some nearly 230,000 mourners - including Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - came out to pay their respects and bid farewell to Pele.

The soccer legend died on December 29 after undergoing treatment for colon cancer for the past year.

His casket, draped in Brazil’s flag, laid at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos for a 24-hour memorial service before being taken in a procession through the city on Tuesday (January 3).

On Brazil’s streets, fans celebrated the life and legacy of the prolific goalscorer.

Dubbed the 'king of soccer,' Pele played for Santos from 1956 to 1974, scoring more than 1,000 goals.

He would help lead the national team to World Cup victory three times as a player – an unprecedented feat that no one has yet to replicate.

This fan said he was unprepared for Pele’s death.

“We are not just saying goodbye to our king; we are saying goodbye to a genius, a legend of the Brazilian people," he said.

As his casket lay on top of a firetruck, winding through the streets of Santos, it made an important stop at his 100-year-old mother’s house, before carrying on to a private burial.

Edinho, Pele’s son, thanked his father’s fans for their support on behalf of his family.

Pele was laid to rest in the world’s tallest cemetery.

Two life-size bronze statues of the star in his glory day stand outside his tomb, guarding the entrance.

Pele was 82.