30/12/2022
Neymar leads Pele tributes from Brazil stars
Three-time World Cup winner hailed by PSG superstar for 'turning football into art'
Pelé
Tributes pour in after Pele passes away, aged 82
Neymar shares Brazil all-time scoring record with Pele
Thiago Silva, Casemiro and Richarlison also salute 'king of football'
Neymar lauded Pele for turning "football into art" and changing the face of the sport, as he led tributes from modern-day Brazil stars to the Selecao legend.
Thiago Silva, Casemiro and Richarlison are among the Brazil players who have also saluted Pele with heartfelt messages following his death on Thursday at the age of 82.
Neymar – who shares Brazil’s all-time goalscoring record with Pele – hailed one of the game’s greatest-ever players for leaving a lasting impact which transcended football.
"Before Pele, 10 was just a number. I've read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete," Neymar wrote on social media.
"I would say before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment. Gave voice to the poor, blacks and mostly: gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He's gone but his magic remains. Pele is FOREVER!!"
A farewell to Pele: The king of the World Cup
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Brazil defender Thiago Silva described three-time FIFA World Cup™ winner Pele as "forever the king of football".
“Rest in peace, Pele,” he added. “You have changed the history of football. Your legacy will always be in our hearts. Thanks for everything!"
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro echoed Silva’s sentiments
"Rest in peace, king Pele. Thank you for the glory you gave to Brazil and football. Your legacy is eternal," he wrote on social media.
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Casemiro's Brazil United teammate Antony labelled Pele as an "example", posting: "The biggest of all! The king, the inspiration, the example, the only one, the ETERNAL!!"
Pele's 77-goal international haul remains a benchmark for Brazil, with Neymar equalling that record with his Qatar 2022 quarter-final strike against Croatia. Pele’s extraordinary exploits have inspired several current Brazil stars, with Real Madrid forward Rodrygo recalling the tales told of the former Santos forward.
He wrote on Twitter: "What a sadness! 12/29 from today will always become a sad date. We grew up in Santos hearing people talk about you every day, how good you were at playing and as a person. Thank God I had the opportunity to meet you in person…"
The King of Football
The glittering FIFA World Cup career of the late, great Pelé - still the youngest scorer and youngest winner of the global showpiece.
Richarlison added: "Today, football says goodbye to its most beautiful chapter. From the guy who dedicated his thousandth goal to children, stopped wars and showed an entire country that he could do more. You are and always will be matchless and eternal, King. Thank you and may God welcome you with open arms."
