Funeral ceremony of the legendary Brazilian footballer, Pele commenced 10 a.m on Monday in Santos, with the footballer’s mother, Dona Celeste, who is said not too certain about the three-time World Cup winner’s death, waiting to say goodbye.

According to the funeral arrangements, Pele’s coffin brought into Estadio Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos will lie in state for 24 hours where people are currently paying their last respects before the remains will be taken through the streets of Santos to the home of his 100-year-old mother, Dona Celeste to enable her have the opportunity to say a final goodbye to her son, after initially being tragically unaware that the Brazilian legend had died.

Maria Lucia do Nascimento, Pele’s sister who cares for her mother had reportedly said that the mother of the football Legend was unaware of his death.

“We talk but she doesn’t know the situation. She’s in her own world.

“She opens her eyes when I mention his name and say, we’re going to pray for him, but she’s not really conscious of what I’m saying”, Maria Lucia said.

Dona Celeste turned 100 in November, with Pele sharing a message on social media to mark the occasion.

“Today, we celebrate 100 years of Dona Celeste’s life,” Pele had wrote at the time.

Pele’s funeral ceremony took place at Estadio Urbano Caldeira (also known as Vila Belmiro), the home of Santos, the club where he spent the majority of his iconic playing career.

The coffin with the remains of the late Brazilian soccer icon, Pele lies on display on the pitch of the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, today Monday while the burial will take place in a vertical cemetery only 600 meters away from the stadium tomorrow Tuesday January 3rd, 2023.

It was gathered that Pelé’s family is the only one allowed access to the legend’s coffin, located in the middle tent while the general public passed by in one of the Pele’s grids.