Brazilian football icon Pele, a three-time World Cup winner who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, died at the age of 82.
Tributes from the fans as well as the sporting world poured in.
His death after a long battle with cancer was caused by “multiple organ failure,”
The football world — from his former teammates to current stars — came together to honor “O Rei” (The King), who transformed the sport during a long professional career that began when he was still a teenager.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of national mourning, while president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to take office Sunday, tweeted: “Thank you, Pele.”
Brazil star Neymar said Pele “transformed football into an art,” France’s Kylian Mbappe said his legacy “will never be forgotten,” and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo called him an “inspiration to millions.”
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi simply wrote: “Rest in peace.”
Pele is the only footballer in history to have won three World Cups — in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He scored a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches during a 21-year career.
In a testament to Pele’s influence, international figures including US President Joe Biden and former leader Barack Obama, Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach also paid tribute.
Filipinos who have embraced the football as a sport especially during the “heydays” of Azkals, are also one in paying respect to the great one. During the AFF Mitsubushi Electric Cup 2022 match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the Philippine and Indonesian football teams share a moment of silence in honor of Pele.
