Some of Brazil's most well-known sportsmen have come under intense criticism from fans and analysts for skipping festivities honouring Pelé.
On Monday, hundreds of thousands of spectators lined up for hours in the sweltering sun to pass by the recently departed soccer legend's casket at Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium.
Only a small number of Brazil's World Cup champions, including Ricardo Kaká, Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, and Ronaldo Nazario, travelled 50 miles south of So Paulo to pay respects.
Pelé is a global citizen on par with Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi, but Brazilians are unable to recognise this, according to José Ferreira Neto, a former midfielder for Brazil and current outspoken TV host.
What can I say to them if they won the World Cup and didn't come to meet Pelé? It at least demonstrates a lack of respect.
At the 24-hour wake, Neto, a former player for Santos' bitter rivals Corinthians, made his entrance early on Tuesday morning. He was escorted by a number of dignitaries, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Alejandro Domnguez, the CONMEBOL president, and Tarcsio de Freitas, the governor of So Paulo.
Less than 48 hours after being sworn in for a third term as president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also arrived by plane from Brasilia.
Some of Pelé's colleagues from the all-conquering Santos teams of the 1960s have passed away, while others are elderly and in terrible health and are well into their 80s.
However, several of his teammates were present, notably Clodoaldo Tavares de Santana, the lone representative of the illustrious Brazil 1970 team. There was a glaring absence of Tosto (Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade), Jairzinho (Jair Ventura Filho), Roberto Rivellino, Gérson de Oliveira Nunes, and Wilson Piazza.
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