Football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, died on Thursday 29 December, aged 82. Now the Brazilian idol is celebrated all over the world.

“Everything you see any player do, Pelé did it first,” wrote Erling Braut Haaland Twitter. He added “rest in peace” and a football and a king emoji.

– He was one of the greatest, said Egil «Drill» Olsen to NRK.

“Before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything. He made football an art, gave a voice to the poor, black people, and most importantly: He gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have been given more status well thanks to the king. He is gone, but the magic remains,” wrote Neymar Jr. on Instagram.

Celebrated worldwide

Social media was filled with condolences and tributes to the 82 year old.

“The king of football has left us, but his legacy will live on forever,” wrote Kylian Mbappé Instagram.

“An inspiration to millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever,” said Cristiano Ronaldo Instagram.

Pele’s own Instagram profile a post was published saying:

“Inspiration and love marked the life of King Pelé, who died peacefully today. During his lifetime, Edson showed the world his genius in sport, stopped wars, carried out social work around the world, and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems : Love.

Kelly Nascimento’s daughter signs hers Instagram: “Everything we have is thanks to you”.

The fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, explain Pelé as a “Sports Legend”.

“Rest in peace Pelé,” Messi wrote on Instagram.

“I saw Pelé give a show. Because, when he got the ball, he always did something special, which often led to goals. I admit I was angry with Pelé, because he always slaughtered my Corinthians. But above all I admire him. And anger soon turned to excitement to see him play in the number 10 shirt of the Brazilian national team. He left one certainty: There has never been a number 10 like him,” said Brazil’s incoming president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“The happiest footballer and man”, wrote Gary Lineker Twitter.

Brazilian star Richarlison, who has a ‘You made Brazil smile, Pelé’ tattoo, also shared a photo of the legend on Twitter Instagramin which he wrote, among other things: “Today, football says goodbye to its most beautiful half”.

– This is very sad. He is one of the world’s greatest sportsmen of all time, not only in football, former football commentator Arne Scheie told NTB.

Drillo meeting with Pele

Norwegian coaching legend Egil “Drillo” Olsen (80) had to meet Pelé in 1958. Sweden then hosted the WC, and Pelé won the first of a total of three WC gold medals (1958, 1962, 1970).

The 17-year-old Brazilian met 16-year-old Drillo in connection with Brazil’s group stage game against the Soviet Union in Gothenburg.

Pelé, wearing the number 10 on his back, came into the championship injured. This was his first match in the championship.

Drillo remembers it as the match in which Garrincha broke through and became world famous.

– So is Pele. After that I followed and watched Pelé on … I don’t know how many games, but of course I was a big admirer of Pelé as a player. He has most of it. Both as a facilitator, creativity, goalscorer. He has a trick that almost no one else has. No, one of the biggest, said Drillo.

– Top of the list

Østfoldingen describes Brazil as hpolite and courteous. And it was true: Pelé made his definitive breakthrough in the next game against France in the World Cup semi-finals.

Then, at the age of 17, Pelé became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup. A few days later, he became the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final. Sweden were defeated 5–2.

NRK expert Åge Hareide believes the world has never seen anything like it.

– I have Pelé at the top of the list. Because I was born when Pele was growing up. He was only 17 years old when he played in Sweden in 1958, and I had a Brazilian team in the wall. I had followed him all the way and then he became world champion in 1970, and I remember that WC all too well. “He is a fantastic player,” said Hareide.

Brazil national team manager Tite spoke about his relationship with Pelé and their first meeting at a press conference during the World Cup.

– He’s probably the only person I’ve met where I start shaking when we shake hands. I speak from the bottom of my heart when I say that it was a very emotional moment for me to meet him. I started shaking, my hands were sweating and I felt my pulse racing. These are difficult times, said a serious Tite, wishing Pelé well.