Like a symbol.
More than a symbol.
FC Santos, his club from 1956 to… 1974, was among the first to react.
But this Thursday evening, shortly after 8 p.m., he did not post a photo as millions of people were about to do on social networks.
Santos contented himself with a simple but powerful image to greet Pelé, who died at the age of 82: his King's crown, placed on a black background, illuminated by a halo of light and simply captioned: "eternal".
The football world, and beyond, was obviously quick to react.
In the age of social networks, messages have arrived from all over the world in often beautiful and moving forms.
Read alsoDeath of Pelé, the greatest footballer in history
So often compared to Pelé in recent weeks during the World Cup, Kylian Mbapp spoke to the one he met in Paris in April 2019. "RIP King", he said in English below of black and white photo with the Brazilian.
"The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten," writes the PSG striker.
The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.
RIP KING 💔👑… pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 29, 2022
Naturally, Neymar, another child of Santos, also posted strong words: “Before Pelé, 10 was just a number.
I read this sentence somewhere, at some point in my life.
But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.
I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport.
Pelé changed everything.
He turned football into art, into entertainment.
He gave voice to the poor, to blacks and above all: he gave visibility to Brazil.
Football and Brazil have risen thanks to the King!
He is gone, but his magic will remain.
»
Messi, Thiago Silva, Deschamps, Romario, Gerson...
Currently on vacation in Argentina, world champion Lionel Messi was satisfied with a "Rest in peace".
This is not the case of Cristiano Ronaldo who paid tribute on Instagram to Pelé: “My most sincere condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
A simple goodbye to the Eternal King will never be enough to express the pain that grips everyone in football right now.
An inspiration for so many millions of people, a reference of yesterday, today, forever.
The affection he always showed towards me was reciprocal in all the moments we shared, even from a distance.
He will never be forgotten and his memory will forever be etched in the memory of all of us football lovers.
»
Very touched, all generations of Brazilian players took part in the tribute.
“You changed the history of football and it will always live on in our hearts.
Thank you for everything,” wrote Thiago Silva, the captain of the Seleção.
Romario, 1994 world champion, underlines: “Today, Brazil bids farewell to one of its most illustrious sons: Pelé, the king of football.
Elected athlete of the century, Edson Arantes do Nascimento bent the world before his talent, bringing Brazilian football to the altar of the gods.
»
Read alsoDeath of Pelé: "France 2-Pelé 3" ... in 1963, his only match with Brazil in France
Another moving tribute is that of Gérson de Oliveira Nunes, who had raised the 1970 World Cup alongside him: “A King does not die, he simply rests.
I had the honor of playing with Pelé, and against him, too.
A true genius, among the few I have known.
He enchanted the whole world with his unique football, worthy of all the awards and trophies he won during his brilliant years of playing football and his unparalleled trajectory in the sport.
His great work, his sensational goals, his magnificent vision of the game will surely remain for eternity.
Sincerely, thank you Pelé, for everything you have done for Brazilian and world football.
May the King rest in peace, and God comfort his friends, family, and millions of fans.
»
In France, the reaction of Didier Deschamps is also strong and full of nostalgia: “With the disappearance of Pelé, football loses one of its most beautiful legends, if not the most beautiful.
Like all legends, the King seemed immortal.
It made people dream and continued to make generations and generations of fans of our sport.
Who hasn't dreamed of being Pelé as a child?
With his number 10, he put his technical virtuosity, his audacity, his creativity at the service of his teams and in particular that of Brazil with whom he won three World Cups.
Pelé was the alliance of beauty and efficiency.
His talent and his track record will remain forever etched in our memories.
To his family, his loved ones and the Brazilian people, I send my sincere condolences and all my sympathy.
The king will remain the king, forever.
»
“The most divine of footballers and the happiest of men”
Englishman Gary Lineker has not forgotten the company of Pelé, "the most divine of footballers and the happiest of men".
He adds: “He played a game that only a select few approached.
Three times he lifted the most coveted gold trophy in that beautiful yellow shirt.
He may have left us but he will always have footballing immortality.
»
On BFM, Alain Giresse, underlined that Pelé was "the first player who brought a superior technical dimension through never-before-seen gestures, which he invented, that's what made his magic, like this proximity he had on the popular level”.
"Gigi" remembered the Brazilian's presence at Michel Platini's jubilee.
“It was a privilege to approach it like that, in all simplicity, he says.
Despite the great players behind him, Messi, Maradona, Platini, Cruyff, etc., he will always have a special status, one more thing.
It was the flag-bearer of football in the greatest dimension.
»
Pelé, Diego Maradona and Platini, at the latter's jubilee, at the Marcel-Picot stadium in Nancy in 1988. Presse Sports
On Twitter Rolland Courbis confided this widely shared impression: “I thought he was immortal!
Beyond football, Usain Bolt hailed "a sports legend".
Rafael Nadal described a "sad day for the sports world".
