Brazil begins 3 days of mourning for soccer superstar Pel

Brazil began three days of mourning on Friday, a day after the death of soccer icon Pel, a national hero widely regarded as one of his sport's greatest players.

Peldied Thursday at age 82following a long battle with cancer.Brazilian President Jair Bolsonarodeclared the period of mourning in a decree he signed on Friday, two days before he wasset to leave office.

WATCH | Fans worldwide pay tribute to Pel:

World remembers Brazilian soccer legend Pel

2 years ago

Duration 2:30

Soccer fans and admirers around the world mourn and pay tribute to Brazil's 'King Pel' who died Thursday at the age of 82.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to the world as Pel, rose from poverty to become one of the greatest athletes in modern history. He was the only man to win three World Cups as a player, scoring12 goals in 14 World Cup matches.

One of the many images on display to pay homagetoPelin Brazil could be seen on a building in Sao Paulo on Thursday night.

(Mauro Horita/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, ayoungboy posed in front of a flag of the late Brazilian soccer star outside the Vila Belmiro stadium, home of the Santos FC soccer club, in the Braziliancoastal city onThursday. Pelplayed most of his career with Santos FC.

(Matias Delacroix/The Associated Press)

Another fanwent to the PelMuseum in SantosonFriday to take a photo.

(Matias Delacroix/The Associated Press)

And this fan, below, posedfor a picture next to a statue depicting the soccer legend, also in Santos, on Friday. Fans will be able to pay their final respects to Pelduring funeral services at the Santos stadium on Monday and Tuesday.

(Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)

Also on Friday, fansAntonio da Pazand Renato Souzastood in front of the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, holding memorabilia honouringtheir hero.

(Marcelo Chello/The Associated Press)

Newspapers fromaroundthe world paid tribute to Pel with front-page coverage. Brazilian daily O Globo had a commemorative four-cover edition highlighting the late soccer star'scareer. On its front page, Spain's El Pais said, "Goodbye to Pele, 'the king' of football,"with a picture of him celebrating the 1970 World Cup triumph.

(Reuters)

French sports daily L'Equipe switched its headline colours to reflect the green and yellow of Brazil, with a picture of a young Peladorning its cover. It also had the words "Pel. He was a King."

Below, a woman holds a Brazilian daily newspaper headlining Pel's deathon a newsstand in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.

(Mauro Pimental/AFP/Getty Images)