Following the announcement of Pele’s death by his family in a post via the football icon’s official Instagram account yesterday,Brazil international Neymar reacted by saying that Pele gave voice to blacks and turned football into art.

Pele who has been receiving regular treatment from doctors ever since undergoing surgery to have a tumour on his colon removed in September 2021  was readmitted to the hospital towards the end of 2022 for treatment but later gave up the ghost. Reacting to this

Neymar wrote: “Before Pelé, 10 was just a number. I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete. “I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé has changed it all. “He turned football into art, into entertainment. Gave voice to the poor, blacks and mostly: Gave visibility to Brazil. “Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He’s gone but his magic remains. Pelé is FOREVER!!”

Ada Peter