Football legends pay tribute to ‘king of football’
More football greats have been paying tribute to Brazil football legend Pele.
Wayne Rooney posted photos of the pair to Instagram, and wrote: “Rest in peace Pele. Legend.”
France striker Kylian Mbappe described Pele as “the king of football”, adding “his legacy will never be forgotten”.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus said: “Rest In Peace King. Your legacy is eternal!”
Scotland and Manchester United legend Denis Law said: “Pele was an unbelievable footballer, he had style, grace, flair and made everything look easy.
“The fact that he was only 17 when he played in a World Cup final speaks for itself. The precision in the way he played made him such a joy to watch…magical. However, more than anything he was a good man with a great presence and a fantastic smile.”
‘The day we never wanted to come’
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has paid tribute to Pele, saying “this is the day we never wanted come – the day we lost Pele”.
“Pele had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped,” said Infantino in a statement published on Fifa’s website.
“His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world.
“His legacy is impossible to summarise in words.
“To his family and friends, to CBF, to Brazil and to all football fans who loved him so much, I express my sincere condolences.”
‘A great man and a great player’
EvertonEverton manager Frank Lampard, speaking at a media conference this morning:
“My memories are of video footage as a young boy. Diego Maradona was my hero but Maradona and Pele were the greatest.
“I have huge respect for him as a player. He was a great man and a great player. You can imagine what he would be in the modern game.
“The reach of his game was huge and has stayed. That name will continue for ever more. It’s a sad day for football.”
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SMS Message: Pele IS football. Long live Pele! from Arty
SMS Message: It became a bit of a cliche to talk about whether great footballers like Messi could ‘do it on a wet Tuesday night at Stoke’ … Well, Pele did! When Santos came to Stoke for an exhibition match in 1969 (I think owing to a burgeoning friendship with Gordon Banks) he scored two (including the winner) in a 3-2 victory. from David
SMS Message: Pele was so ahead of his time no doubt the ultimate GOAT, record breaker and the best footballer to compete at an international level. We pay tribute to the legend. from Jeremy
SMS Message: Pre-Pele, the number 10 jersey was like any other jersey, Post-Pele, it became the most renowned for the best of the rest. Thanks Pele for the gift of the beautiful game. from Opeyemi
Ghana legend pays tribute to Pele
Ghanaian football legend and three-time African Footballer of the Year, Abedi Ayew Pele, has paid tribute to Pele, describing him as a friend and a mentor.
Nicknamed after the Brazilian football legend, Abedi said he inspired him and many across the world.
“Personally, I was immensely inspired by his greatness, and to be likened to him and bear his iconic name throughout my playing time and beyond, is an absolute privilege and a priceless honour,” he said.
David Beckham’s tribute to Pele
David Beckham has paid tribute to Pele on Instagram by posting a photo of the pair, saying: “It was HIS beautiful game.”
Former England football captain Beckham wrote in Portuguese: “Thank you and goodbye – rest in peace my friend.”
‘The world’s best player to date’
Rachel Brown-FinnisEx-England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live
He is absolutely still the world’s best player to date. He has some living legends maybe on a par with him but he will always be up there. He scored a goal pretty much every game that he played, he just did so much for lesser privileged people certainly from Brazil and across football.
Winning three World Cups I think that just rolls off the tongue but when you actually think about what that is. I only went to two World Cups in my lifetime and I played for 18 years. To win three is quite unthinkable.
He was the catalyst in that team – that creative force and technical genius. An absolute genius!
The best player I ever played against – Redknapp
Former West Ham and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp posted this photo to Instagram of Pele and former England captain Bobby Moore exchanging shirts after the 1970 World Cup game.
He wrote: “Rest in peace to an irreplaceable man Pele. My favourite picture of all time.
“The best player I ever played against, with the greatest England captain Bobby Moore, who I was fortunate enough to play with.
“Two great men showing respect for each other and the game. Both great legends.”
Premier League clubs to pay tribute this weekend
Simon StoneBBC SportPremier League clubs will wear black armbands and hold a minute’s applause before games in honour of Pele, following his death on Thursday at the age of 82.
Clubs will also be encouraged to pay tribute to the Brazilian on big screens.
Fulham are looking at a way of incorporating Pele into their planned, extensive tribute to club legend and World Cup winner George Cohen ahead of their game with Southampton tomorrow.
‘Whenever an icon passes away, it’s very sad’
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking about Pele:
“I’ve seen videos. Especially the England v Brazil game in 1970. I think in my era you grew knowing he was the best player in the world. Very, very sad.
“Whenever an icon passes away, it’s a very sad moment for football. I’ve seen the reaction of the media and everyone connected with football and he’s well remembered around the world.
“As a player, he was increidbly talented. His goals were all different types, some spectacular, some tap-ins, lots of headers. As a footballer, the showreel of his goals and best moments. There are also some iconic sporting moments. Look back at the sportsmanship, the photo with Bobby Moore in 1970. Those images are so powerful.
“You hear what a humble guy he was and when you think of that story attached to his greatness as a player, it’s brilliant.”
‘I followed him into the changing room to try to stop him’
BBC Radio 5 LiveFormer England captain Alan Mullery says Pele inspired him to become a better footballer and revealed his unusual tactic to try and stop the Brazilian superstar in a 1967 friendly match.
“Alf Ramsey asked me to follow him everywhere to try and stop him, to be in his shorts,” Mullery told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “It was 0-0 at half-time and I followed him into the dressing room at half-time!
“He asked me what I was doing and then Alf asked why I was late!
“That was how Pele was, he had a lovely attitude to people. Nobody could copy him and he scored goals for fun. I have never seen a better player in all my years following football.”
‘His name is synonymous with football’
Gary LinekerEx-England striker and BBC Match of the Day presenter
Unquestionably he is one of the greatest football players that ever lived. He could do everything.
For me, it’s difficult to separate Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. All of them do things mere mortals cannot.
He was also hugely significant in the development and enjoyment of football, which is the most important thing, and was one of football’s great entertainers through pure skill, talent and ability.
The name Pele is synonymous with football.
A sporting icon who made football beautiful
Bobby Charlton said that football might have been “invented for him”.
Certainly, most commentators regard him as the finest exponent of the beautiful game.
Pele’s skill and electrifying speed were coupled with a deadly accuracy in front of goal.
A national hero in his native Brazil, he became a global sporting icon.
And, off the field, he campaigned tirelessly to improve conditions for the most deprived people in society.
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Brad: In football terms, Pele was The Beatles. The things our favourite modern day players, and the players that came before them was, one way or another, the result of this man.
Robert: I simply adored watching Pele play, over the years I’ve relived all his highlights via old videos and online, he will never be topped. A great footballer and a great man.
‘Pele, our mighty Brazilian hero’
More tributes have poured in overnight from athletes and football clubs worldwide.
Ex-Brazil defender and World Cup winner Cafu said: “Pele dies, this news is not accurate… Pele will never die. Pele will never leave us. Pele will never cease to exist. Pele is eternal, Pele is King, Pele is unique… he just went to rest a little bit.”
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”.
The Twitter account of Brazil’s government described Pele as “our mighty Brazilian hero” who will be “immortalised by his genius”.
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.”
‘Like someone from a different species’
Tim VickeryBBC Sport South American football expertPele was so far ahead of his time. He was a global icon of the game before the game went truly global. The undoubted king of it.
It’s also probably true that the World Cup didn’t quite see him at his best. He was at the peak of his powers in 1962 when he got injured in the second game.
He said the greatest game of his career was later that year when the champions of South America, Santos, played the champions of Europe, Benfica. The first leg in Brazil was 3-2 to Santos and Benfica were favourites for the second. Pele ran riot and put them 5-0 up in against a fantastic opponent.
He was like someone from a different species – the most perfect football machine there has ever been.
If I had to choose one player in the history of the game to play for my life, it would be Pele.
Nasa’s tribute to Pele
Nasa has paid tribute to Pele by releasing an image of a spiral galaxy in the constellation, Sculptor, showing the colours of Brazil.
The photo was posted on all of the space agency’s social media accounts.
‘Pele didn’t just belong to Brazil – he belonged to the world’
Henry WinterChief Football Writer for The Times
There will be so many tributes for what a magnificent footballer he was on the field. But he will also be remembered for what he did off the field. For poor children in Brazil, for kids with cancer working as an ambassador for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. And those stories will echo around the world.
Pele didn’t just belong to Brazil. He belonged to the world, to so many countries, to sport, to football, to anyone who loved self-expression in a sporting setting that he did so brilliantly.
More from Henry on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast