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Pelé (picture from June 2016)
Photo:
WILL OLIVER / EPA
The international press writes about the death of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé:
UNITED STATES:
»New York Times«
: »Pelé was a national hero in his native Brazil and loved all over the world – by the poorest among whom he grew up, by the wealthiest in whose circles he was associated and by just about everyone who saw him ever saw play."
»Washington Post«
: »There was only one Pelé.
Aside from his unequaled three world championship titles, his creative, acrobatic play, his love of football and his contagious joy made him a global icon.«
Great Britain:
»Daily Mirror«
: »Seeing Pelé at full speed was the most beautiful sight in football - long before this adjective defined the game.
Even today, his name not only stands for beauty, but also for excellence, breathtaking ability and the highest level of sportsmanship.
Long before Maradona, Ronaldo and Messi, there wasn't even a debate about the greatest footballer of all time.
Every fan knew it was Pele and they adored him.”
»The Sun«
: »In bright Brazilian yellow on the then newfangled color television sets, Pele seemed to have descended from football heaven.
It was the 1970 World Cup and he defined what the beautiful game could be with ballet-like balance, stunning speed and clinical skill.”
Spain:
»Marca«
: »A football myth is gone.
Pelé was one of the best players in history, undoubtedly the best of his time.
Today is a day of mourning for football.
Rest in peace, 'O Rei'."
»El País«
: »The death of Pelé, 'O Rei', Brazil's eternal and international idol, has left his countrymen dejected and nostalgia for the days when Brazil was synonymous with triumph.«
Italy:
»La Repubblica«
: »Farewell to Pelé, the master who invented the future.
›O Rei‹ was born in Três Corações, in the southeast of Brazil – three hearts, that says it all.«
»Corriere dello Sport«
: »The football world is mourning.
The incomparable icon of Brazilian and world football has died at the age of 82.«
France:
»Le Figaro«
: »Football has lost its king.
Pelé was the sun of Brazil.
Its warmth, its light, its power, its joy, its creativity.
His legend spans epochs.
The essence of an artist.«
»L'Equipe«
: »Brazil, a country in shock.
The death of Pelé has shaken the country.«
Austria:
»Kronen-Zeitung«
: »The striker delighted the masses with his technical skills and goal-getting qualities even before football became a live TV mass event and billion-dollar business.«
Switzerland:
»Blick«
: »Pele is the greatest in history, the first global superstar that football has seen.
The quote from Ronald Reagan has been handed down: 'My name is Ronald Reagan, I am the President of the United States of America.
But you don't need to introduce yourself, because everyone knows who Pelé is.' Whether Reagan, Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II or Nelson Mandela, Pelé captivated everyone with his radiant smile.«
ngo/dpa
