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Pelé Dies at 82: Soccer Stars Messi, Ronaldo Lead Social Media Tributes Paid to the Legendary Player

The world of soccer has lost one of the greatest players to ever play the beautiful game. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known around the world as the legendary Brazilian player Pelé, has passed away at the age of 82.

Pelé Dies at 82: Soccer Stars Messi, Ronaldo Lead Social Media Tributes Paid to the Legendary Player
Xavi Torrent/Getty Images for Pele

Tributes have been pouring in from soccer players of today, government officials, and even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Pelé Dies at 82

The announcement of Pelé's death was made on his social media accounts. The post made on his Instagram account can be viewed below:

Pelé has been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since last year, according to a report by AP. The soccer legend was admitted to the hospital last month due to a respiratory infection as well as other complications connected to colon cancer.

Per the Albert Einstein Hospital, Pelé died of multiple organ failure due to his worsening cancer.

Funeral plans have been made for Monday and Tuesday. According to AP, his casket will be carried through the city of Santos. Santos is known as the place where his career began.

Born on October 23, 1940, Pelé began training with his first club, Santos FC, as a teenager. Per CNN, he scored his first goal with the club just before his 16th birthday. He ended up scoring 619 goals in 618 appearances as a player for the club.

Pelé is the only player to win three World Cups, doing so in 1958, 1962, and 1970. The 1958 World Cup marked his debut at just 17 years old. He was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, while he was named as one of the two winners of FIFA Player of the Century along with Diego Maradona.

Tributes Pour in from Soccer Stars, Clubs

Soccer stars as well as different soccer clubs have gone on social media to pay tribute to the late Pelé.

Lionel Messi shared photos of him and the late soccer legend with a simple "Rest in peace." Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, shared a lengthier message on his Instagram account that went with a photo of him and Pelé.

"A mere 'goodbye' to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that currently embraces the entire world of football," his post reads, according to The Guadian.

"An inspiration for so many millions, a reference from yesterday, today, forever," Ronaldo adds.

His first club, Santos, posted a photo of a crown on its Twitter account along with the word "Eternal."

More tributes from soccer players and clubs can be seen below:

Tributes from Outside of Soccer

Tributes have also been paid from those outside the world of soccer, including fellow athletes as well as celebrities and politicians.

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