Neymar Pens Emotional Tribute to Pele
Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe among football legends to salute Brazilian icon following his death on December 30
Before Pele, 10 was just a number. I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment. Gave voice to the poor, blacks and mostly: Gave visibility to Brazil.” Neymar Jnr Brazil football star
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Pele won an astonishing three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
He also went on to become Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 77 goals in 92 appearances – a record that Neymar only recently equalled.
The club with whom Pele spent his entire career – Santos – tweeted a picture of a crown with the message ‘eterno’, which translates as ‘eternal’, after his family announced his passing.
Officially, Pele scored 757 goals in 831 games during a glittering career from 1957 to 1977, although Santos claim his tally was closer to 1,000.
Neymar Jnr
Current Brazil star Neymar, who equalled Pele’s international goalscoring record at the World Cup in Qatar, led the tributes as he posted an emotional message on social media.
The Paris Saint-German forward wrote on Instagram: “Before Pele, 10 was just a number. I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point. “But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say before Pele football was just a sport. Pele has changed it all.
“He turned football into art, into entertainment. Gave voice to the poor, blacks and mostly: Gave visibility to Brazil.
“Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King. He’s gone but his magic remains. “Pele is FOREVER.”
Mbappe, Messi and pay tribute
Ronaldo
France World Cup winner and Neymar’s PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappe, also posted a message on Instagram, writing: “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.” Argentina’s World Cup winner Lionel Messi posted a picture on
Instagram too of him with Pele with the message: “Rest in peace,
@pele.”
Cristiano Ronaldo also shared 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.”
English Football Association
The English Football Association announced they will light up the Wembley arch in Brazil colours as a tribute and said: “Everyone who loves football, loves Pele.
“His unique talent lit up the game, and inspired football. Our thoughts are with his family, the Brazil Football Confederation and the Brazilian people.”
Sir Bobby Charlton played against Pele at the World Cup and said in a statement released by his former club Manchester United: “Pele was a truly magical footballer and a wonderful human being. “It was an honour to have shared a pitch with him and I send my sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the Brazilian people.” Sir Geoff Hurst, who was also part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team, tweeted: “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 the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you.”
FIFA presdient
FIFA president Gianni Infantino penned a lengthy tribute to the Brazil legend.
He wrote: “I am heart-broken to learn that we have lost Pelé, the Athlete of the Century.
“Today is a truly tragic day for football and The Beautiful Game, as he called it, will never be the same again. Pelé was unique in so many ways.
“He scored more than 1,000 goals over the course of his career and was the only player to have won the World Cup three times. The sight of him punching the air in celebration is one of the most iconic in our sport, and it is etched into our history.”
Gary Lineker also tweeted, saying: “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.”