Soccer stars past and present leave emotional farewell messages to Pelé, who died aged 82 in Sao Paulo
Pele’s death at the age of 82 has devastated the sporting world, whose stars past and present have left emotional farewell messages for the Brazilian star, one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Kylian Mbappé, the PSG striker who regarded Pelé as one of his successors, reacted to the death of the idol with a heartfelt message. “The king of football has left us, but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING,” he wrote on his networks. “For Pelé, ’10’ was just a number. I read that sentence once somewhere in my life, but this beautiful sentence is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything. He transformed football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to the blacks and above all: he gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil increased their status thanks to the king! It’s gone, but the magic will remain. Pelé is eternal!« commented Neymar, who equaled Pelé as top scorer for the ‘Canarinha’ at the World Cup in Qatar.
«My deepest condolences to all of Brazil, and especially to the family of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento. A simple ‘goodbye’ to the eternal king Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference of yesterday, today, forever. The affection he always showed me was reciprocated in all the moments we shared, even from a distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will remain in all of us football fans forever. Rest in peace, King Pelé,” wrote Cristiano Ronaldo, five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Shocked Vinicius was shown. “King, majesty, example. Skin is love, generosity. The player who changed football, the greatest of them all, has left us. Always loving and encouraging words about me. I have read and saved all the messages you sent me when you supported me in a delicate moment or when you celebrated my achievements. And what an honor to have honored you in celebrating my first cup goal. Pride is a defining moment. Fortunately in life I could say how much you will always be my reference. His legacy will never be forgotten. Pele is eternal. I love you Rey,” commented the Real Madrid winger, who always had Pele as one of his references.
“12/29 from today will always be a sad date. We grew up in Santos listening to people talk about you every day, how good you were at playing and as a person, thank goodness I had the opportunity to meet you in person. It was one of the most special days of my life! Thank you for the advice and encouragement you gave me after our conversation. “Boy always be yourself and don’t be afraid of anything” this will stay in my memory forever. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the country. Rest In Peace King! You will always be the greatest of all time,” said Real Madrid player Rodrygo, another footballer who looks in Pelé’s mirror, on his social networks.
Brazil bids farewell to one of its most illustrious sons. He made the world bow to his talent and brought Brazilian football to the altar of the gods. He inspired generations of athletes and deserves all the credits,” said Romario, a former Brazilian footballer who rose through the ranks of Barça and Valencia, among others, and shone with the Brazilian team.
“Talking about a legend or a historical figure is inadequate. Just, “O Rey” has left us. Football will always remember you. Rest in peace, Pelé,” said Sergio Ramos, Spanish defender of PSG, on his social networks. “Very sad day for football! A myth of this sport is going to leave us. Admired and loved. DEP Pelé,” wrote Spanish exporter Iker Casillas.
“Unique. Brilliant. Technical. Creative. Perfect. One of a kind. Where Pelé arrived, he stayed. Without ever leaving the top, he leaves us today. The king of football, only one. The greatest of all time. The world in mourning,” said Ronaldo Nazário, the current president of Valladolid who was always compared to Pelé in his time as a footballer.
“He was the first global superstar and through his achievements, on and off the pitch, he pioneered the rise of football to become the most popular sport in the world. He will be sorely missed,” said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
“I only played against him in friendlies, but that made me want to stop and think about him. He was very technical, very intelligent. He did things that were otherwise impossible. He was a great person. His legacy is eternal,” said Luis Suarez Miramontes, the only Spaniard to have won the Ballon d’Or.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
