Liberian President George Weah has remembered the late Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who passed away at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, after losing a battle with colon cancer on Thursday. He was 82.
“The death of soccer legend King Pele has brought me immense sadness. During the prime of his youth, the Brazilian sports icon rose to the top of the game as he helped his country win three World Cups,” Weah said.
“Like us his admirers, thousands of his compatriots have expressed their grief. My life as a professional footballer was inspired by the exploits of the king. He gave me some remarkable words of motivation when I first met him in Monaco. That propelled me to eventually becoming the world best player 1995.
“King Pele’s death is a monumental loss to the world of football. For many years he encouraged and guided young athletes like myself to greatness. I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the government and people of Brazil, as well as the family of the bereaved. Long live the spirit of the king of soccer. He was my mentor, friend, and big brother.”
Pelé, who was regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, was admitted to hospital last month to re-evaluate his cancer treatment and later diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
He was drafted into the Brazil national team when he was only 16 years old. He’s the only player to have won three World Cup trophies (1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico).
Between 1957 and 1971, the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker scored 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil. Overall, he scored 1279 goals in 1363 games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) named the Brazilian as its athlete of the century in 1999. A year later, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) voted him as the world player of the century.
