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“King” Pele “changed everything”, says Brazil forward Neymar as tributes pour in for the late footballing legend.
Arguably the greatest player ever, Pele died at the age of 82 on Thursday and current and former players took to social media to pay their respects.
“Before Pele, football was only a sport,” Neymar wrote on Instagram.
“Pele changed everything. He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to black people.”
Neymar added: “Mainly: he gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil raised their status thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will remain.”
Neymar’s French Paris St-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe also described Pele as “the king of football”, adding “his legacy will never be forgotten”.
Pele is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.
The only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo said: “A mere goodbye to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that is enveloping the whole of the football world right now.
“The care he always showed for me was reciprocated in every moment we shared, even when we were apart.
“His memory will endure forever in every one of us who love football.”
President of football’s world governing body Fifa Gianni Infantino said he was “heartbroken” on “a truly tragic day for football” and described Pele as “the athlete of the century”.
Infantino continued: “Pele tried things that no other player would even dream of, such as the famous dummy in the 1970 World Cup semi-final that became known as the ‘Pele run-around’.
“He had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped. Today, the whole world mourns the loss of Pele; the greatest footballer of all time.”
Richarlison, one of several current Brazil players who paid tribute, described Pele as football’s “most beautiful chapter” and said he “changed the history of the game forever”.
Richarlison continued: “You will always be the greatest because 60 years ago, with all the difficulties you faced, you did what only a few have managed to do today.”
England’s World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst said Pele was “without doubt the best football I ever played against”, adding: “I was proud to be on the pitch with him.”
Fellow 1966 champion Sir Bobby Charlton hailed Pele as “a truly magical footballer and a wonderful human being”.
Pele’s former club Santos posted a picture of a crown with the word “eternal”.
Former England striker Gary Lineker said Pele will “always have footballing immortality” as “the most divine of footballers and joyous of men”.
The Football Association will light up the Wembley arch in Brazil colours and said: “Everyone who loves football, loves Pele.”
Eight-time Olympic champion in athletics Usain Bolt also paid tribute, describing Pele as “a sporting legend”.
New York Cosmos – where Pele finished his club career in 1977 – said he “started a sporting revolution in America”.
The club added that he “helped popularise soccer across the United States”, saying: “Where once there had been baseball diamonds, now there were also soccer pitches.”
The Twitter account of Brazil’s government described Pele as “our mighty Brazilian hero” who will be “immortalised by his genius”.
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento posted a picture of what appeared to be Pele’s family’s hands on his body in hospital and wrote: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation described him as “much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time”.
A statement said: “The King gave us a new Brazil and we are so thankful for his legacy.”
Pele’s official Instagram account said he had “spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love”.
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