From BZ/dpa
Franz Beckenbauer reacted to the death of his friend and former teammate Pelé with touching words.
“Football has lost the greatest in its history today – and I have lost a unique friend,” said the 77-year-old Beckenbauer in a statement released by German soccer record champions FC Bayern Munich. Pele died on Thursday at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo at the age of 82.
Franz Beckenbauer and his friend Pelé in 1996 Photo: Ursula Düren/dpa
“Born in Três Corações, Pelé had three hearts: for football, for his family, for all people. Someone who played with the stars and always stayed down to earth,” added Beckenbauer, who remembered the time he spent with Pelé at the US club Cosmos New York in 1977: “That time at his side was one of the greatest experiences my career. We became US champions together right away, and Pelé then just called me his brother. It was an unimaginable honor for me.”
At the end of the statement, Beckenbauer addressed the words to Pelé directly: “Football will be yours forever! you will always stay Thank you for your game, O Rei!”
So mourns the football world
Leo Messi (Argentina): “Rest in peace, Pele.”
Neymar (Brazil): “I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything. He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to the black people and above all to the other. It gave Brazil visibility.”
Pelé with young Neymar in 2014 Photo: Nelson Antoine/AP/dpa
Kylian Mbappe (France): “The king of football has left us, but his legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, king.”
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): “My deepest condolences to all of Brazil and especially to Edson Arantes do Nascimento’s family. Just saying goodbye to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is feeling right now. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The warmth you always showed me was returned in every moment we shared, even remotely. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live on forever in each and every one of us who love football. Rest in Peace King Pele.”
Pelé congratulates Cristiano Ronaldo on his election as FIFA Player of the Year in 2009 Photo: epa Keystone Schmidt/dpa
Robert Lewandowski (Poland): “Rest in peace, champion. Heaven has a new star and football loses a hero.”
Erling Haaland (Norway): “Anything you see a player do, Pelé did it first. RIP.”
Mesut Özil (World Champion 2014): “Rest in Peace to one of the game’s greatest legends. Your legacy will live forever. I’m sure that with Maradona and Pelé, “FC Himmel” will always be invincible.”
Pelé 2019 with France’s superstar Kylian Mbappé Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP
Oliver Kahn (CEO FC Bayern Munich): “Pelé is a personality of over 1000 goals – and much more: He has inspired and delighted generations of fans around the world, on and off the pitch. Even people who have never seen him play live know about his unique magic. Pelé is one of the few immortals of our time.”
Cafu (Brazil): “Today I lost my brother. As a Catholic Christian I know that “by dying one is born to eternal life”. We will have all eternity to be together in the Father’s house. See you one day, Pelé.”
Sergio Ramos (Spain): “To talk about a legend or a historical figure does not go far enough. Simply, O Rei left us. Football will always remember you. Rest in peace Pelé.”
Rio Ferdinand (England): “The legend that stood tallest among legends. Always had time for everyone! The player, the man, the icon.”
Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine): “Your legacy will always be remembered. My condolences to your family. RIP, king.”
Joseph S. Blatter (Ex-FIFA President, Switzerland): Very sad news. Pele left us. The world mourns the greatest footballer in history and a wonderful personality.”
Real Madrid (Spain): “Real Madrid CF, its President and Board of Directors deeply regret the death of world football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, one of the greatest players of all time. Pelé will forever be remembered by all who love the sport and his legacy places him among the great legends of world football.”
FC Barcelona (Spain): “Barça learned with sadness of the death of “Rei” Pelé, one of the greatest footballers of all time. He made football bigger than ever. Rest in peace.”
German football league: “The football world mourns the loss of one of the greatest players of all time. Rest in peace, Pelé.”
La Liga (Spain): “A legend of world football. La Liga expresses its condolences on the death of Pele and extends its deepest condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, O Rei.”