[ad_1]
Neymar led tributes to Pele after his death aged 82, saying “he is gone but his magic remains”.
Pele, the Brazilian football legend, died on Thursday at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo after a battle with cancer and reactions poured in around the world to remember the only player to win the World Cup three times.
Neymar, who is Brazil’s top scorer in men’s international football alongside Pele with 77 goals, sent an emotional message following the death of his idol.
“He is gone but his magic remains. Pelé is eternal,” wrote Neymar on Instagram.
Neymar and Pele also played for Brazilian club Santos
“I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He turned football into art, into entertainment.”
Christ the Redeemer, the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, and the Wembley arch were both lit up in Brazilian colors on Thursday night in honor of Pele.
Ronaldo: Farewell to the eternal King
Cristiano Ronaldo said Pele’s “memory will live forever in everyone who loves football”.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward wrote on Instagram: “A single ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pelé will not be enough to express the pain that the whole world of football is now embracing.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Sports journalist Henry Winter paid tribute to football legend Pele by describing him as more than ‘the greatest footballer of all time’.
“An inspiration to millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always show me is reciprocated in every moment we share even from a distance.
“He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in every football lover. Rest in peace Raja Pelé.”
Messi and Mbappe pay tribute to Pele
Paris Saint-Germain forwards Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe also paid tribute to Pele.
Mbappe posted a picture of himself and Pele with the words: “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.”
Messi simply wrote: “Rest in peace, Pele”.
Less than two weeks ago Pele congratulated Messi on winning the World Cup with Argentina in a heartfelt post on Instagram, while offering consolation to France forward Mbappe after he failed despite scoring a hat-trick.
“Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an exciting way,” wrote Pele.
“Messi won his first World Cup, as expected. My dear friend, Mbappé, scored four goals in the final. What a gift to watch this spectacle for the future of our sport.”
Ronaldo: It’s a privilege to come after you
Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Ronaldo, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, said Pele left us as “the greatest of all time”.
“What a privilege to follow you my friend,” he wrote on social media.
“Your talent is a school that every player should follow. His legacy transcends generations. And that’s how you will live on. Today and forever, we will celebrate you. Thank you, Pele. Rest in peace.”
He added: “Where Pelé came, he stayed. He never left the top, he left us today. The king of football – one. The greatest of all time.”
Hurst: Pele remains the greatest of all time
Sir Geoff Hurst, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final when England lifted the trophy in 1966, said Pele “remains the greatest of all time”.
Hurst was on the losing side when England played Pele’s Brazil in the group stages of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and that match had a lasting impact on the former West Ham striker.
“I have many memories of Pele, without a doubt the best footballer I played with (with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I played with),” he wrote on Twitter.
“For me Pele remains the greatest of all time and I am proud to be on the field with him. RIP Pele and thank you.”
Infantino: Pele’s legacy cannot be summed up
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Pele’s “magnetic presence” as he praised the Brazilian legend’s legacy in football around the world.
“When you’re with him, the rest of the world stops,” Infantino said.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
South American football expert Tim Vickery pays tribute to Pele, describing him as ‘the most perfect football machine’
“His life was more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and around the world. His legacy cannot be summed up in words.
“Today, we all mourn the physical loss of our beloved Pele, but he earned immortality long ago and that is why he will be with us forever.”
Martin Tyler: ‘In the world of football Pele is immortal’
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Football commentator Martin Tyler paid tribute to Brazilian football icon Pele describing him as ‘the greatest player ever’.
Sky Sports football commentator Martin Tyler said Pele deserves to be remembered as the best player to have played the game.
He said: “For me, he is the greatest player of all time. One of his early jobs outside of television was to set the English sound on VHS, like in those days, his Brazilian career and 1,000 goals.
“If I had any doubts about how good he is, the video proves it. It’s a privilege to do it and to pay tribute to someone who can do more than score goals.
“He will always be remembered for his ability to score amazing goals in terrible conditions on a bumpy pitch, when players have more license to use all means to stop him. He cannot be denied.
“Of course for me, he will be the greatest and in the world of football he is immortal.”
[ad_2]
Source link