Legendary soccer player Pele He passed away this Thursday at the age of 82. after battling cancer for more than a year, one of his daughters announced.
“We love you infinitely. Rest in peace,” his daughter Kely Nascimento posted on her Instagram account.
The International Football Federation (FIFA) paid homage and remembered the legendary former player, stressing that he was an “immortal” figure.
“Pelé: Immortal, always with us,” FIFA headlined its statement. “They called him El Rey and his face is one of the most recognizable in world football. It is none other than Pelé, whom FIFA chose in his day as the best player of the 20th century. The legendary Brazilian passed away this Thursday, December 29,” he added, referring to the only footballer to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), FIFA’s star tournament.
Other media figures from both sports and politics wrote farewell words.
Neymar Jr.
“Pele turned football into art, into entertainment,” Brazilian star Neymar said.
“I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything,” wrote the “10” from Paris Saint Germain on his Instagram account, in a message that he accompanied with a couple of photos shared with “O king”.
kylian mbappe
“The king of football has left us, but his legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, King,” wrote the striker for Paris SG and the French team, accompanying the message with a photo of both.
Mbappé, world champion in 2018 and runner-up in Qatar-2022, has often been compared to Pelé for his precocity.
Lionel Messi
The Argentine star, recent world champion in Qatar-2022, said goodbye on Instagram to the “king” of world football. “Rest in peace Pelé”, wrote Lionel Messi and accompanied the post with three photos, two of himself with Pelé and another of the legendary Brazilian celebrating a goal.
The Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo joined the wave of reactions after the death of the legendary Brazilian soccer player Pelé, “an inspiration for so many millions” of soccer fans, he wrote on his Instagram account.
“A mere “goodbye” to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that currently overwhelms the entire world of football. An inspiration for so many millions, a reference from yesterday, today, forever”, declared CR7 after giving the “My condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento” (Pelé).
Cristiano Ronaldo recalled that “the love he always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared, even from a distance”.
“He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each of the football lovers. Rest in peace King Pelé”, he concluded.
The elected president of Brazil, who will take office next year, also dedicated a message to the footballer
Brazilian. “I had the privilege that young Brazilians did not have: I saw Pelé play, live, in Pacaembu and Morumbi. He doesn’t play. I saw Pelé put on a show. Because when the ball came to him, he always did something special, which often ended in goal”.
I have the privilege that the youngest Brazilians do not have: I saw Pelé play, alive, not Pacaembu and Morumbi. Play, no. I saw Pelé give a show. Because when he hit the ball he always did something special, which many times ended in a goal.
��: @ricardostuckert pic.twitter.com/YQs3K119t9
– Lula (@LulaOficial)
December 29, 2022
“The Game. The King. Eternity,” the French head of state wrote on Twitter, in a message written in both French and Portuguese.
“King Pelé has left us. His legend will never go out,” reacted the French Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera. “He was the soul of football. A champion, a magician, a genius. His smile said it all,” she said.
