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Reaction to the death of Brazil soccer great Pele

football29 December 2022 19:58| © Reuters
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BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION

"Pele was much more than the greatest sportsman of all time. The King of Soccer was the ultimate exponent of a victorious Brazil, never afraid of any difficulty. A black, poor boy born in Tres Coracoes, Pele showed us that there is always a new path. He promised his father he would win a World Cup and he won us three, in addition to scoring 95 goals in 113 games with Brazil's national team. The King gave us a new Brazil and we can only thank him for his legacy. Thank you, Pele."

RELIVE The best of Pele on SuperSport Football, Access and GoTV throughout the day. Content also available on Showmax and CatchUp.

FORMER ENGLAND PLAYER GARY LINEKER

Pele has died. The most divine of footballers and joyous of men. He played a game only a few chosen ones have come close to. 3 times he lifted the most coveted gold trophy in that beautiful yellow shirt. He may have left us but he’ll always have footballing immortality. RIP Pele.

BRAZIL CAPTAIN AND CHELSEA PLAYER THIAGO SILVA, ON INSTAGRAM

Rest in peace 'Rei', God bless all his family"

PSG STRIKER KYLIAN MBAPPE, ON TWITTER

The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING ...

LIVERPOOL ON TWITTER

A legend, icon and true great of the game who will forever be remembered. Rest in peace, Pele."

BRAZIL FORWARD NEYMAR

Brazil forward Neymar hailed Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, in a social media post alongside two pictures of himself with the legend.

"Before Pele, '10' was just a number," the heir to Pele's famed shirt number wrote on Instagram.

"But that beautiful sentence is incomplete. I would say that before Pele, football was just a sport.

"He transformed football into an art, into entertainment... Football and Brazil gained status thanks to the King. He has gone, but his magic will remain. Pele is ETERNAL!"

PORTUGUESE FORWARD CRISTIANO RONALDO

Pele was hailed by Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo as a "source of inspiration for so many millions".

"He is a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared, even from distance," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram after the Brazilian legend passed away at the age of 82.

Ronaldo added: "He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pele."

LULA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF BRAZIL

I had the privilege that younger Brazilians didn't have: I saw Pele play, live, at Pacaembu and Morumbi. Play, no. I saw Pele give a show. Because when he got the ball he always did something special, which often ended up in a goal.

Fifa PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO, ON INSTAGRAM

Pele: Immortal - forever with us

FORMER BRAZIL PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSSEFF

Thank you, Pele! Thank you for the smiles you provided. For the tears of emotion. For the cries of goal. Thank you for the joy you gave the Brazilian people and the people of the world. No one has been a king so loved. I convey to the Brazilian women and to his family my immense sorrow.

ARGENTINA CAPTAIN LIONEL MESSI

"Rest in peace, @pele".

ARGENTINA PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ

"One of the greatest footballers in history has left us. We will always remember those years when Pele dazzled the world with his skills. A big hug to his family and to the people of Brazil who will carry him in their hearts."

FORMER ENGLAND PLAYER GEOFF HURST

"I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against (with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside). For me Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you."

BRAZIL'S LOWER HOUSE SPEAKER ARTHUR LIRA

"Brazil and the world mourn the death of our eternal number 10, the greatest soccer player of all time. I send his family my sympathies and convey, on behalf of the Lower House, a tribute to a symbol that honoured and dignified Brazil and its people. The king of soccer for the whole world. Pele, the man, leaves us. But the eternal Pele will live forever."

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF WALES

Pele broke our hearts in 1958 to score his first World Cup goal to knock Cymru out. Today our hearts are broken again. A true sporting legend. Our thoughts are with the people of Brazil and the world football family.

URUGUAYAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

On the passing of Pele, a legend of World Football, the Uruguayan Football Association salutes with deep sorrow the Brazilian Football Confederation and the Brazilian people at this difficult time.

POLAND STRIKER ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

Rest in peace Champion. Heaven has a new star, and the football world lost a hero.

STEFANO DOMENICALI, CEO OF FORMULA 1

Very sad to hear the news that Pele, one of (the) greatest footballers ever has passed away. He was a shining light for Brazil and millions around the world. His skill, smile and brilliance will live on forever. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Rest in peace, Pele. Thank you for the joy you brought to football fans around the world

UNESCO

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pele. We extend our condolences to the Brazilian people and the football family. Pele was @UNESCO Champion for Sport since 1994 and worked relentlessly to promote sport as a tool for peace. He will be greatly missed.

CONMEBOL, SOUTH AMERICAN FOOTBALL'S GOVERNING BODY

Already light up the sky the star of the King, the first 10, the player with more World Cups. Thank you for putting South America on top. We will miss you. You will always shine in our hearts.

Eternal Glory to the King

BRAZIL MIDFIELDER CASEMIRO

Rest in peace, King Pele. Thank you for the glory you gave to Brazil and to football. Your legacy is eternal.

ARGENTINA WORLD CUP WINNER OSVALDO ARDILES

The King of Kings has died. Extraordinary player. Unique. Three times World Cup winner, more than 1 000 goals. My idol when young. He made football the beautiful game and truly international. My time playing alongside him in Escape to Victory was a dream come true. RIP Pele.

BRAZIL WORLD CUP WINNER RIVALDO

I am grateful to God that Pele is Brazilian. Our football is known and respected worldwide for everything he did on the pitch and this will never be forgotten. I am proud to have played in two World Cups with the number 10, which was consecrated by him.

King Pele, your legacy is eternal. May God bless and comfort the hearts of the family. Rest in Peace, King Pele.

PORTUGAL PRESIDENT MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSA

The President of the Republic mourns the death of Pele, the extraordinary Brazilian soccer player that enchanted us for decades.

Pele was a king of soccer, a symbol of Brazil, he marked generations and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest in the most popular sport in the world.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offers his deepest condolences to the Brazilian people, to Pele's family and friends and to all those who cry for the passing of a legend.

BRAZIL FORWARD RICHARLISON

Today football bids farewell to its most beautiful chapter. Of the guy who enchanted the world and changed the history of the game forever. You will always be the greatest because 60 years ago, with all the difficulties you faced, you were already doing what very few can do today.

The guy who dedicated his 1 000th goal to the children and made our country discover that it could do so much more. You are and always will be incomparable, King. You are eternal! Thank you and may God receive you with open arms.

SPANISH CLUB BARCELONA

Barca deeply regrets the death of "Rei" Pele, one of the greatest players of all time. With him, football became greater. May he rest in peace.

FORMER US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Pele was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him.

NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Obrigado, Pele. No one did more for this sport here, and everywhere. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

FRANCE COACH DIDIER DESCHAMPS

With the passing of Pele, football has lost one of its most beautiful legends, if not the most beautiful. Like all legends, the King seemed immortal. It made people dream and continued to make generations and generations of fans of our sport.

Who hasn't dreamed, as a child, of being Pele? With his number 10, he put his technical virtuosity, his audacity, his creativity at the service of his teams and especially that of Brazil with whom he won three World Cups.

Pele was the alliance of beauty and efficiency. His talent and track record will remain forever etched in our memories. To his family, loved ones and the Brazilian people, I extend my sincere condolences and sympathy. The king will remain the king, forever.

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT THOMAS BACH

With Pele's passing, the world has lost a great sporting icon. As I could experience myself, he was a true believer in the Olympic values and a proud carrier of the Olympic flame. It was a privilege to present the Olympic Order to him.

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

The game. The king. Eternity.

FORMER BRAZIL STRIKER RONALDO

Unique. Genius. Technical. Creative. Perfect. Unequalled. Where Pele has gone, he has stayed. Never having left the top, he leaves us today. The king of football - one and only. The greatest of all time.

The world mourns. The sadness of farewell mixed with the immense pride of the history written.

What a privilege to come after you, my friend. Your talent is a school that every player should go through. Your legacy transcends generations. And that is how you will live on. Today and always, we will celebrate you.

Additional reporting from AFP

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