•Nicknamed "O Rei" (The King), he scored more than 1,000 goals in one of the most storied careers in sport, before retiring in 1977.
•The legend died on Thursday night at Sao Paulo hospital.
Image: Ronaldinho/Twitter
Brazil soccer icon Pelé died aged 82 on Thursday night with the football world in mourning as tributes pour in following the passing of one of the greatest players in history.
Nicknamed "O Rei" (The King), he scored more than 1,000 goals in one of the most storied careers in sport, before retiring in 1977.
He had been in increasingly fragile health, battling kidney problems and colon cancer,undergoing surgery for the latter in September 2021, followed by chemotherapy.
Football players across the world paid tribute to the man whom many said made the game of soccer beautiful.'
"The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pele." Former Mancherster United player Cristiano Ronaldo
Meus pêsames a toda família.
— Ronaldinho (@10Ronaldinho) December 29, 2022
Descanse em paz eterno Rei 👑 pic.twitter.com/dJFKIVKLDt
The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 29, 2022
RIP KING 💔👑… pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud
Rest easy king 👑 pic.twitter.com/V1Qa1FsZYh
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) December 29, 2022
Brazilian legend Pelé has passed away at 82, one of the greatest of all time who changed the game.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 29, 2022
A man with a god-given talent, one of the names who will remain forever in the memory.
All thoughts with the family.
RIP, legend 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/xxndio7gmM
Rest in peace pele 🕊️💔 #legend pic.twitter.com/YBDryKfmZP
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) December 29, 2022
Rest in peace Legend. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/CvqQI1bvd2
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) December 29, 2022
Rest in peace Pele, one of the greatest ever. What a role model on and off the pitch. Winner of 3 World Cups, unbelievable 🙏🏼❤️🇧🇷 #pele pic.twitter.com/PErVqkERuF
— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) December 29, 2022
Everything you see any player doing, Pelé did it first. RIP ⚽️🤴🏿 pic.twitter.com/SeW0z1hQTm
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) December 29, 2022
Today, we say goodbye to the best ever 🕊️ Rest in eternal peace, Pele, you'll be missed my millions and millions. Legend 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/KfUkO0Nvdi
— Samuel Eto'o (@SamuelEtoo) December 29, 2022
The legend who stood tallest among legends… always had time for everyone!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 29, 2022
I had the pleasure of playing for him (charity match) and interviewing him - equally rewarding.
The player, The man, The icon@Pele pic.twitter.com/x763cyrqIF