Throughout the night, thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects to Pele, a legend of Brazil who is buried at the site of his old team Santos.

Fans lined the streets to enter the stadium as Pele's coffin was positioned in the middle of the field at the Urbano Caldeira stadium in Sao Paulo.

The three-time World Cup champion passed away on December 29th at the age of 82.

At 12:00 GMT on Tuesday, there will be a parade through Santos' streets to a private family burial.

"We're going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who attended the memorial.

Following Pele's passing, the Brazilian government proclaimed three days of national mourning.

As the 24-hour vigil comes to an end, the newly elected president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will go to Santos, a city in the state of Sao Paulo, to pay his respects.

The greatest footballer in history, Pele, had been receiving treatment for colon cancer since 2021.

'There will be no one else like Pele' - fans pay tribute

Thousands of fans gathered on the streets as the hearse arrived at the stadium on Monday morning, with some queuing overnight to see the coffin.

Former Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto and Pele's son Edinho helped carry his coffin while floral wreaths were sent by Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid.

Beatrice woke up at six in the morning to travel with her husband from the city of Soracaba to Santos, and had been waiting for more than two hours in the queue.

"I'm determined to pay my final respects to him," the 56-year-old told the BBC.

queued for more than three hours to see Pele lying in state

When asked what Pele meant to Brazilians aside from football, Beatrice said he had helped unite modern Brazil, breaking through racist standards in Brazilian society to open the world of football and wider society to black Brazilians.

Wilson Genio queued with his 13 year old son Miguel, carrying white roses and a family treasure: a Santos Football Club flag personally signed by the legend himself.

The flag reads: "To the family Genio, your friend Pele".

The Genio men had travelled overnight with the hearse carrying Pele's body from Sao Paolo. "We followed him all the way. We've been here since 3.30am," they said.

"We could pass another 1,000, 2,000 years and there will no one like Pele. He's the one and only legend."

Genio and his son Miguel queued to pay their respects with a signed flag from Pele himself

'The whole city is drawn to the stadium'

The BBC's Frances Mao in Santos

It is baking hot- about 30 degrees in Santos, but it feels like the whole city is drawn to the heart of Vila Belmiro stadium where Pele's coffin lies.

A steady stream of mourners pass through the centre to pay their final respects - sometimes a smattering of applause breaks out as they pass his coffin. People from all over Brazil - and the outside world - have come. I spot a Mexican flag, a Dutch pin.

There are several news helicopters buzzing overhead. People are dressed in the striped black-and-white jerseys of the Santos Football Club - Pele's team - or in Brazilian national team yellow jersey.

Pele's voice blasts over the stands in the stadium - his 2006 song "Meu Legado", meaning My Legacy, is playing on repeat.

Outside the stadium, a queue of thousands snakes for kilometres across half a dozen city blocks. It is a two-hour wait in the midday sun.

Men have taken off their shirts to wrap around their heads like bandanas. Others are fanning themselves with the tribute newspaper printed just for the day. Some have come prepared with hats, umbrellas and their tributes.

Sometimes a Mexican wave ripples through. There are occasional chants of Pele! Rei! But mostly, the crowds are patient in the heat, waiting for their turn to say goodbye.

of fireworks were set off on Monday as Pele arrived at Santos' stadium

city of Santos prepares to say goodbye to its hero Pele, who played 656 competitive matches for the club

authorities are expected to attend the memorial, including newly sworn-in Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

body will lie in state at Santos' stadium for 24 hours for the public to pay their respects

president Gianni Infantino attended the memorial

of mourners from all around the world are expected to gather in Santos