Brazil enter three days of mourning after death of Pele as fans pay tearful tributes

LEGEND 

Brazil announce three days of mourning following death of Pele as emotion pours out on the streets with fans paying tribute to ‘The King’

The Brazilian government has announced the entire country will enter three days of national mourning following the death of Pele.

Pele, the three-time World Cup winner and one of the greatest footballers of all-time, sadly passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.

The football icon had been in hospital in Sao Paulo since late November with illness, with the news of his passing announced on Thursday evening.

And as tributes poured in from across the world, Brazil officially declared a three-day period of national mourning as they remember their hero.

As well as words of condolence from a host of other legendary figures in the game, tributes were made in the streets across Brazil, with fans seen in tears as they reacted to the news.

A mass of supporters were pictured with banners and flags outside the Santos’ Vila Belmiro Stadium – the ground where Pele started his career.

The world famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was illuminated in the colours of the Brazilian flag, while the national Maracana Stadium in the city was lit up with a halo of golden lights to pay tribute to the one known as ‘The King’.

Santos, Pele’s former club in Brazil, announced his funeral will take place on Monday and Tuesday, with the public able to pay their final respects at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, outside Sao Paulo.

Pele’s coffin will be taken straight from the Albert Einstein Hospital to the stadium and laid in the centre of the pitch, with the public wake expected to begin from 10am local time until Tuesday morning.

There will then be a funeral cortege through the streets of Santos, passing in front of the home of Pele’s 100-year-old mother, Celeste, ahead of a private burial to take place at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica which only family will attend.

There were rounds of applause ahead of Thursday evening’s Football League matches across the country, which kicked off shortly after news broke of Pele’s death.

Similar tributes are expected at Friday’s Premier League matches.

Christ the Redeemer statue is lit with the colors of the Brazilian flag to pay homage to the late football legend.

Pele was a true icon of the game.

Fans gathered outside Santos’ Vila Belmiro Stadium to pay tribute to Pele.

Fans were in tears as emotion poured out onto the streets of Brazil following Pele’s passing.

Supporters also gathered outside Sao Paulo the hospital where Pele died, where they erected a banner reading: “Eternal King Pele”.

The Maracana Stadium was lit with golden lights in tribute to Pele.

Wembley was lit up in tribute to Pele.

Images of Pele were beamed on the side of buildings in Sao Paulo.