Neymar pays moving tribute to Pelé, who died at 82

Football legend Pelé passed away on Thursday, December 29, at the age of 82 following cancer. Neymar, the Brazilian player, paid him a vibrant tribute on Instagram.

The world of football is in mourning. We learned this Thursday, December 29, of the death of Pelé at the age of 82. The death of this true sports legend has not failed to shake football aficionados. “The king of football has left us”, wrote Kylian Mbappé on Instagram. Before adding: “But his legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, King.” The Brazilian had been battling colon cancer for several months. He had also been hospitalized recently in intensive care, causing great concern among his supporters.

“He gave visibility to Brazil”

After MBappé, it is another PSG player, who paid a vibrant tribute to Pelé on social networks. Neymar thus saluted the memory of the legend in a very moving publication. “Before Pelé, ’10’ was just a number. I read this sentence somewhere, at some point in my life. But this beautiful sentence is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything. He turned football into art, into entertainment.” he wrote on the social network. Before highlighting what the legendary athlete had brought to his country. “He gave a voice to the poor, to blacks and above all… he gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King!”, he pointed out. Before concluding : “He’s gone, but his magic will remain. Pelé is ETERNAL!”. A very nice tribute to an athlete, who was also a man committed to the education and health of children. Pelé had also been made “Citizen of the World” by the United Nations in 1977.

A legendary player

From the people, Pelé was only 17 when he scored six goals in a World Cup final in the 1950s – the first of a long series for Brazil. The footballer who won three World Cups was voted Player of the 20th Century by FIFA (International Football Federation) and Athlete of the Century by the IOC (International Olympic Committee).