World leaders have mourned the death of former Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pele, after he passed away on Thursday at the age of 82 following health problems since late November.
U.S. President Joe Biden shared that both the thoughts of First Lady Jill Biden and his own «are with his family and all those who loved him.»
«For a sport that unites the world like no other, Pele’s rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible,» Biden said.
For his part, U.S. State Department Secretary Antony Blinken expressed his condolences «to family, friends and fellow Brazilians, as well as soccer fans around the world.»
«Pelé was a true legend, there was no one like him. But he also transcended the game and inspired generations on and off the field,» Blinken acknowledged.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, who met Pelé during a visit to Brazil, noted that the soccer player «understood the power of sports to bring people together.»
«Pelé was one of the greatest to play this beautiful game,» he said, before adding that his «thoughts are with his family and all those who loved and admired him,» he said in a message on his Twitter profile.
The former player, when he met the former U.S. president, gave him a Brazilian national team jersey: «To President Obama with a hug, Edson Pelé», reports the newspaper ‘Folha de S.Paulo’.
LATIN AMERICA SOLIDARIZES WITH BRAZIL The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has sent «a message of solidarity to his family and to all the people of Brazil who loved him so much».
«As a child I watched Pelé on a black and white screen at the World Cup. My dad told me he was the best soccer player in the world. Today I believe my father was right,» Petro explained.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also mourned the death, noting that «the great soccer player and humble teacher surely influenced players like Ronaldinho with his example».
From Argentina, a neighboring country with which Brazil has a historic sporting rivalry, especially in soccer, President Alberto Fernández paid tribute to «one of the best soccer players in history».
«We will always remember those years where Pelé dazzled the world with his skills. A big hug to his family and to the people of Brazil, who will carry him in their hearts,» said Fernandez on his official Twitter profile.
The leader of Bolivia, Luis Arce, who wanted to thank the ex-footballer «for illuminating the courts with his talent», said that the world «lost a great soccer legend, Pelé, whose example of perseverance and love for the sport transcends generations».
In addition, the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, said that she shared «the Brazilian and Latin American grief at the death of «an idol, a world model of soccer and sport».
«He was a source of inspiration for girls, boys and young people of several generations. Societies need figures like Pelé who constantly strive for excellence,» he said.
Mourning from Europe From Europe, the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, remarked that «today the whole world is in mourning for a legend called Pelé».
«Thanks to his style and class, he managed to leave his mark even on generations who were not lucky enough to see him play,» she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted an image of ‘Pelé’, accompanied by the words «the game, the king, eternity».
The Prime Minister of Greece, Kiriakos Mitsotakis, has also joined the messages of farewell for the death of ‘Pelé’, assuring that «he was and will be the king of soccer».
The Hungarian ‘premier’, Viktor Orbán, has assured that «the one and only Pelé, the best of all time has left us». «Farewell legend,» he added in a message accompanied by an image of the two together.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
