Brazil announces three days of mourning for the death of Pele, and the football world expresses its sorrow at the departure of the legend.
Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as “Pele” and nicknamed the “Black Jewel”, died Thursday, at the age of 82, after a struggle with illness and a month after his transfer to a hospital in Sao Paulo.
"With Pele's passing, the world has lost a great icon of the sport," German IOC President Thomas Bach said on Twitter.
"As I experienced firsthand, he was a true believer in Olympic values and carried the Olympics.
, torch with pride (during the Rio Games in 2016). It was an honor to award him the Olympic medal." ".
Former international star and current French coach Zinedine Zidane wrote on Instagram, "Eternal King Pele."
"Football lost the greatest day in its history," German World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer said as a player and as a coach.
"It is very sad news. Pele has passed away. The world mourns the greatest footballer in history and a wonderful person.
He celebrated football like no other," wrote former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
As for Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, who is known to be a big soccer fan, he wrote, "One of the greatest soccer players in history has left us.
We will always remember those years in which Pele dazzled the world with his talent."
As soon as the news of the death of “King” Pele spread, many Argentines remembered his message when world soccer legend Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 in late 2020, when Pele wrote, “I lost my dear friend and world legend.
I hope we will play football one day.” Days together in heaven.
For his part, former US President Barack Obama said, "Pele is the greatest who ever gave birth to football, and as one of the most famous athletes in the world, he understood the power of sport in bringing people together.
Our feelings are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him."
