The loss of the legendary Pele, who passed away on Thursday afternoon (29/12) at the age of 82 after a huge battle with cancer, has plunged Brazil and world sport into mourning.

In an official statement, the Brazilian government declared on Thursday evening (29/12) a three-day national mourning period for the loss of the country's greatest footballer.

On Monday (2/1) the popular pilgrimage, on Tuesday (3/1) the funeral of Pelé

Santos, the club where the legendary Pelé shone as a footballer, officially informed shortly after midnight on Thursday (29/12) that the «farewell» to the great Brazilian, through a popular pilgrimage, will take place next Monday (2/1), at their stadium «Vila Belmiro».

The body of the «King» of football, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82, will be transferred from the Albert Einstein Hospital to the stadium at dawn on Monday (2/1).

According to the club, Pele's coffin will be placed in the centre of the stadium and the site will open to the public at 10am on Monday (2/1). The popular pilgrimage will last until 10pm on Tuesday (3/1). After the ceremony, there will be a parade through the streets of Santos, passing by Channel 6, where Donna Celeste, Pele's mother, lives.

The body of Brazil's greatest footballer, who brought Brazilian football to prominence, will be buried at the «Monument of the Universal Cemetery», next to the coast of São Paulo, in an event attended only by members of Pele's family.

Public access to the stadium for the popular pilgrimage will be through gates 2 and 3 and exit will be through gates 7 and 8. Authorities will enter to pay tribute to Pelé through Gate 10.

As announced by the «Albert Einstein» hospital in São Paulo, the three-time world champion died of multiple organ failure. He had been hospitalized since November 29. His admission to hospital was due to a respiratory infection, following his Covid-19 attack and for re-evaluation of his treatment for colon cancer.

Pelé underwent surgery in September 2021 and has since undergone repeated sessions of chemotherapy. In early 2022, metastases were detected in the intestine, lung and liver.

On 21 December, a medical statement from the hospital stressed that Pelé had «progressive oncological disease» and that he needed more care regarding kidney and heart dysfunction. As a result, the former player was not allowed to spend Christmas at home, as the family wanted.

Despite the complicated situation, Pele spent a few days stable and with slight improvement. In the last few days, however, the «King's» health deteriorated again and he passed away at 15:27 on Thursday (20:27 GMT).

Costas Gulis