Pele, the legend of Brazil and the world of football, is no more. The king of football is now in eternal sleep. And his fans are not ready to accept his passing away. Among them are the former football stars of Brazil and they cannot accept the death of Pele, who was affectionately known as ‘Black Manik’.
Dunga, captain and former coach of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning team, wrote in a message on social media, ‘Pele has left the world. He went to a world where there is no end. Pele is eternal and legendary.’
2002 World Cup winning Brazil captain Cafu wrote, ‘I think the news of Pele’s death is not correct. He has no death. If you can’t leave us. He is the king of football. The one who is different from everyone else. Pele went to rest a little. All his goals are eternal. He is a role model for all of us who have played football – professional football as a career.’
According to Romario, a member of the Brazil team that won the World Cup in 1994, ‘Pel’s death means that Brazil has lost its best child as a country. Pele is the king of football. The country’s best sportsman ever.’
Brazil’s star player Ronaldinho participated in the World Cup for the first time in 2002. Ronaldinho, who won the World Cup in his first season, wrote, ‘I learned and played football by watching Pele. I still hold Pele in my heart. His death is a great loss for world football.’
Pele’s team-mate at the 1958 World Cup, Brazil’s multiple World Cup-winning coach Mario Zagal, said, ‘Pele is the best ever. He called the day of Pele’s death a day of sadness for the people of Brazil. But Pele’s death was only a physical passing to him. Jagalo thinks that Pele will live forever in the hearts of football lovers.