What dominated news bulletins, airwaves and news sites across the world on Thursday was the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pelé.
Football fans across the globe were united in mourning the passing of Pele, who died at the ripe old age of 82.
He reportedly breathed his last at the Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital, Sao Paulo.
Pele according to FIFA scored 1,281 goals in 1,366 games while the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had also declared him as ‘The King of Soccer’.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned an outpouring of tributes followed the news of his death on Thursday.
‘I had the privilege that younger Brazilians didn’t have: I saw Pele play, live, at Pacaembu and Morumbi. Play, no. I saw Pele give a show’ President-elect of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said.
Brazilian professional footballer, Neymar da Silva Santos, has also submitted that Pele changed the face of football.
‘Before Pelé, ’10′ was just a number. I read that somewhere at some point in my life. But that line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to the Black and above all he gave Brazil visibility. Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pelé is eternal’ he wrote.
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino also said the late Pele had a magnetic presence adding that his legacy ‘is impossible to summarize in words’.
“Pelé had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped. His life is more than football. He changed perceptions for the better not only in Brazil, South America but across the world. His legacy is impossible to summarize in words. 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’ he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has also mourned the death of Pele submitting that the world will never forget him.
‘May his soul rest in peace. He led a good life and made a huge contribution to the development of global football in particular and world sport in general.
He had an enormous generosity of spirit and humility in spite of his greatness as a footballer and sportsman.
He also built bridges across nations, races and even religions. He was a UN Ambassador of goodwill. Pele is gone but the world will never forget him. RIP’ he submitted.
Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki in a Facebook post on Thursday also recalled admiring and liking Pele for being a skilled soccer player.
‘The death of Brazilian football legend, Pelé has shaken the world. He was undeniably gifted, and his name will remain immortalized in our minds. He will be remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the history of the sport.
I recall watching him play and admiring his superb footballing ability in awe. He inspired generations, and his legacy will continue to live on in the countless players he has influenced.
Today, as the world pays homage to one of the greatest footballers of all time, we honour his greatness and recognize the immense impact he had on the game. It is hard to imagine a world without Pelé, but we take solace in knowing that his memory and legacy will live on.
I express my sincere condolences to his family, friends and the people of Brazil during this difficult time. He will be dearly missed’ he submitted- Team@orientactualmags.com
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