More tributes have poured in for Brazilian football legend Pele, arguably the greatest player ever, who died on Thursday at the age of 82.
More football greats have been paying tribute to Brazil football legend Pele.
Argentina’s World Cup winner Lionel Messi posted a picture on Instagram of him with Pele with the message: “Rest in peace, @pele.”
Cristiano Ronaldo posted a picture of him receiving an award from Pele and wrote: “My deepest condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
“A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that currently embraces the entire world of football.
“An inspiration for so many millions, a reference from yesterday, today, forever. The affection he always showed for me was reciprocal in every moment we shared, even from a distance.
“He will never be forgotten and his memory will live on forever in each of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pele.”
Neymar equalled Pele’s Brazil goals record at the World Cup in Qatar. He paid tribute on his Instagram account, to Pele’s skills but also for giving a “voice to the poor and to black people and visibility to Brazil.”
Neymar wrote: “Before Pelé, 10 was just a number. I read that phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But that sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.
“I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything.
“He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to black people and especially: Gave visibility to Brazil.
“Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic remains. Pele is ETERNAL!!”
Germany great Franz Beckenbauer played with Pele in the late 1970s in the United States at the end of their playing careers.
Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich’s honorary president, wrote on the club’s website: “Today, football lost the greatest man in its history – and I lost a unique friend.
“Born in Tres Coracoes, Pele had three hearts: for football, for his family and for all people. Someone who played with the stars and always stayed down to earth.
“I went to the US in 1977 because I really wanted to play on a team with Pele at New York Cosmos. This time at his side was one of the greatest experiences of my career.
“We became champions together right away, and Pele then just called me his brother. It was an unimaginable honour for me. Football will always belong to you! You will always be here. Thank you for your game, O Rei!”
Wayne Rooney posted photos of the pair to Instagram, and wrote: “Rest in peace Pele. Legend.”
France striker Kylian Mbappe described Pele as “the king of football”, adding “his legacy will never be forgotten”.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus said: “Rest In Peace King. Your legacy is eternal!”
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland paid tribute on Twitter with the message: “Everything you see any player doing, Pelé did it first. RIP.”
Gareth Bale also wrote: “A giant of the game and the reason so many of us love football. Rest in peace, legend.” Bale added a crown emoji.
Scotland and Manchester United legend Denis Law said: “Pele was an unbelievable footballer, he had style, grace, flair and made everything look easy.
“The fact that he was only 17 when he played in a World Cup final speaks for itself. The precision in the way he played made him such a joy to watch…magical. However, more than anything he was a good man with a great presence and a fantastic smile.”
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has paid tribute to Pele, saying “this is the day we never wanted come – the day we lost Pele”.
“Pele had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped,” said Infantino in a statement published on Fifa’s website.
“His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world. His legacy is impossible to summarise in words.
“To his family and friends, to CBF, to Brazil and to all football fans who loved him so much, I express my sincere condolences.”
Everton manager Frank Lampard, speaking at a media conference on Friday morning said: “My memories are of video footage as a young boy. Diego Maradona was my hero but Maradona and Pele were the greatest.
“I have huge respect for him as a player. He was a great man and a great player. You can imagine what he would be in the modern game.
“The reach of his game was huge and has stayed. That name will continue for ever more. It’s a sad day for football.”
He is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.
The only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.
He had been suffering with kidney and prostate problems in recent years.
Pele had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, after the tumour was detected in routine tests. He was readmitted to hospital in late November 2022.
His daughter Kely Nascimento has kept fans updated on her father’s condition with regular social media updates from hospital.
On Thursday she posted a picture of what appeared to be Pele’s family’s hands on his body in hospital and wrote: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
The hospital confirmed that Pele died “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous clinical condition”.
Pele’s Twitter account posted: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation said: “Pele was much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time.
“Our king of football was the greatest exponent of a victorious Brazil, who was never afraid when faced with difficulty. He promised his father a World Cup and he presented us with three.
“The King gave us a new Brazil and we are so thankful for his legacy. Thank you, Pele.”
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, became a global star when, aged 17, he helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, forcing his way into the starting line-up by the knockout stages.
He scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-final and two in a 5-2 triumph over the hosts in the final.
Pele had made his debut for club side Santos two years earlier at the age of 15, scoring in a 7-1 win over Corinthians de Santo Andre.
It was the first of 643 goals he would score for the club in official competitions over 19 years, although Santos claim the total is more than 1,000 once exhibition matches – often against high-profile European opposition – are taken into account.
The Brazilian Football Confederation and Santos say Pele scored 1,283 goals in 1,367 matches, while Fifa claims it was 1,281 goals in 1,366 games.
At the 1962 World Cup, Pele, then 21, scored a brilliant individual goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico to open their campaign, but was injured in the next match and watched from the sidelines as his team defended their title.
The final part of his trilogy of World Cup wins was his most iconic. After being fouled out of the 1966 tournament in England, he was the fulcrum of a thrilling attacking team that swept to the title in 1970, scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win over Italy in the final.
From his joyful tears on the chest of team-mate Nilton Santos to his embrace with England captain Bobby Moore, Pele’s moments of magic have spanned eras and defined the history of the sport.
He finished his club career as part of a star-studded New York Cosmos side, playing alongside German legend Franz Beckenbauer and fellow 1970 World Cup winner Carlos Alberto.
“In music there is Beethoven and the rest. In football, there is Pele and the rest,” he said in 2000.
In a poll conducted by BBC Sport in 2020, Pele was voted the greatest player, ahead of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff.
