Pelé, Brazil World Cup winner and football legend, dies aged 82
The world of football has already started to come together to pay tribute to the Brazilian icon and we will be bringing you live reaction to the sad news.
The FIFA president has said the following:
For everyone who loves the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pelé.
“O Rei” was unique in so many ways.
The sight of him punching the air in celebration is one of the most iconic in our sport, and is etched into our history. In fact, because televised football was still in his infancy at the time, we only saw small glimpses of what he was capable of.
Most importantly, “The King” rose the throne with a smile on his face. Football could be brutal in those days, and Pelé was often on the receiving end of some rough treatment. But, while he knew how to stand up for himself, he was always an exemplary sportsman, with genuine respect for his opponents.
Pelé had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped.
Today, we all mourn the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pelé, but he achieved immortality a long time ago and therefore he will be with us for eternity.
