After hearing about Pelé’s passing, athletes, commentators, and leaders from around the world began paying tribute to him on social media.
Jon Stewart, a lifelong supporter of soccer, has also taken to Twitter to express his admiration for the great.
“Beckenbauer and Chinaglia and Hunt and Eskandarian and Morais were on the Cosmos team, but Pele was the star of the show. Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to meet him in person; it was a real delight. RIP, “Stewart tweeted.
Pelé, whose birth name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento and who was born on October 23, 1940, in the little city of Tres Coracoes, is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players in the history of the sport. Pelé was born in Tres Coracoes.
Six of Pelé’s seven children as well as his wife, entrepreneur Marcia Cibele Aoki, have survived their father’s passing.
Another legendary player in the sport of soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo, paid tribute to his longtime friend and guide on Instagram.
Alongside a photo of the two men shaking hands, he posted a message on Twitter that read, “My heartfelt sympathies to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.” The message was written in Portuguese and translated into English.
Ronaldo said, “A simple “goodbye” to the immortal King Pelé will never be adequate to explain the agony that the entire football world is currently experiencing. Pelé was one of the game’s greatest players. A source of motivation for so many millions, a reference from the past, the present, and the future. Even though we were physically apart, I felt the love that you always showed for me in each and every time that we shared together. He will never be forgotten, and those of us who are passionate about football will carry his memory with us for the rest of our lives. King Pelé, may you rest in peace.”
