Pele dies at 82: Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo join athletes around the world with tributes to 'King of Football'

Kevin Skiver

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Pele dies at 82: Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo join athletes around the world with tributes to 'King of Football' image

Brazilian soccer legend Pele, one of the eminent faces of the biggest game in the world, is the reason soccer is known as "The Beautiful Game." He lived that out on the pitch, as a player who always demonstrated good sportsmanship and leadership.

That reputation has not been lost on sports stars around the globe. While Pele will always have special place in the Brazilian pantheon of athletes, his influence reached far beyond Brazil or even South America, evidenced by an outpouring of emotional Pele tributes follow his death Thursday at 82, led Brazil's current biggest star, Neymar.

Beyond Brazil, some of the other biggest stars in the modern game had kind words for the legendary attacker.

MORE: Pele's singular stardom dwarfed soccer in the US, but his appeal ignited its rise

 

Pelé also received tributes from some major organizations within the sport.

The love for Pele spanned across sports, as well. Other sports stars expressed their admiration.

The imprint Pele leaves on the sporting world is evident, given the myriad of sources mourning him. No matter what sport they play or what country they're from, even with Pele's passing, he'll continue to be a beacon of skill and sportsmanship coaches point to when they tell young athletes how to handle both winning and losing.

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.