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Story: Brazilian mourners lined up to see the body of football legend Pele lying in an open coffin for a 24-hour wake in the coastal city of Santos on Monday.<\/p>\n
Long lines formed outside the Vila Belmiro Stadium, home of Santos Football Club, to see Pele, who died last week at the age of 82 after battling colon cancer.<\/p>\n
His body arrived early Monday morning in Santos, where he spent most of his life after being moved from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n
Former Brazilian international midfielder Zeroberto and Pele’s son helped place his coffin in the center of the field.<\/p>\n
Some fans wiped their tears as they crossed the pitch. Others waiting outside to pay their respects believe Pele has elevated Brazil’s standing in the world.<\/p>\n
“It is the loss of an idol for all, a great figure who made a name for a country in every corner of the world.”<\/p>\n
With over 1,000 goals for Santos, Pele is the only player to win three World Cups.<\/p>\n
The city’s press office said about 5,000 journalists from around the world were qualified to cover the wake.<\/p>\n
The S\u00e3o Paulo state military police said in a statement that they had prepared a special operation called “Operation King Pele” to ensure public order.<\/p>\n
On Tuesdays, a procession carrying Pele’s coffin runs through the streets of Santos and ends at the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis Cemetery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n