The president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, said he was “deeply moved” by the death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, and said that the organization will pay several tributes to the King of Football. The leader declared seven days of official mourning in the entity.
“I am deeply moved by Pelé’s departure. The CBF will pay all possible tributes to the greatest athlete of all time. Pelé is eternal and we will always work to preserve his history and perpetuate his legacy”, he declared.
In the statement, Rodrigues recalled the emotion of having seen Pelé in action, when he was 13 years old. On the occasion, Rei defended Santos in a friendly against the selection from the city of Ilhéus, in the south of Bahia, in 1967. Peixe won 3-1, with one of the goals scored by the number 10.
“I was impressed. Two years later, I traveled to Salvador to watch his thousandth goal, which ended up not coming out. Nildo scored the goal almost on the line. Me and practically the entire Fonte Nova booed the Bahia defender. Rei scored his 1,000th in Rio against Vasco”, recalled Rodrigues.
On its website, the confederation classified Pelé’s death as “the saddest news reported by the CBF since its foundation, 108 years ago”.
The entity also published a video with Pelé’s testimony, in which the King says he wanted “at the most”, to play football like his father.
In a note of regret released on its official website, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) also mourned Pelé’s death and recalled the importance of the King for Brazilian and world sport.
“The nicknames of King of Football and Athlete of the Century demonstrate a little of the size of the feats, which enchanted crowds on all continents and will be eternal”, says the note.
The text highlights that, in 2016, Pelé was honored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the commendation of the Olympic Order, the highest honor granted by the entity.
In a video posted on social media, COB also recalls other moments when the King of Football got involved with Olympic sports.
In their official profiles, Conmebol (Confederação Sudamericana de Futebol) said that Pelé “put South America at the top”. The international organization also called Pelé “the first 10”.
Conmebol even published a video recalling Pelé’s goal in Santos’ 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors, in the 1963 Copa Libertadores final, at La Bombonera stadium, in Buenos Aires (Argentina). “A goal like Pelé, for eternity”, says the publication.
FIFA (International Football Federation) honored Pelé with two publications on its official networks.
The first brings a photograph of the King and a text of condolence. “FIFA and the entire world of football are mourning the death of the eternal King. Rest in peace, Pelé. Our sympathies go out to your family, friends and everyone who had the joy of watching you play.”
The second is a video with testimonials from former colleagues and images of the star’s career:
The Uefa (Union of European Football Associations) also honored Pelé, remembering that he was the first international star of the sport.
“We join fans around the world in mourning Pele, one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was the sport’s first global superstar and played a pioneering role in football’s rise to become the world’s most popular sport. Rest in peace,” says the entity.
The King of Football died this Thursday (29), at Albert Einstein Hospital, in São Paulo, where he had been hospitalized for a month. According to a bulletin released by the medical team, the death occurred “due to the failure of multiple organs, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous clinical condition.”
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