Football Legend

Reuters reports young and old embraced as the funeral procession wound its way through the costal city's streets for hours, with some fans in tears and others cheering and drumming for a national hero who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history.

"It's an irreparable loss for Brazil," said Brazil's newly sworn-in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"Pele, in addition to being the best soccer player in the world, was a humble, simple man."

The 80-year-old had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon earlier this month and was released from intensive care on Wednesday.

Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein Hospital confirmed he was readmitted "as a preventative measure".

"He is recovering well and within normal range," Kely Nascimento said.

He had been having treatment at the hospital since 31 August after the tumour was detected in routine tests.

Media outlets in Brazil had earlier reported Pele was readmitted to intensive care as a precautionary measure because of his age.

Maradona's lawyer revealed that the Argentine, who had recently battled health issues and underwent emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma several weeks ago, had suffered a heart attack at his home in the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Such was Maradona's legendary status in his homeland that Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning after the news of Maradona's death.