Presidents of France Emmanuel Macron, Argentina, Alberto Fernández, USA Joe Biden and Russia Vladimir Putin mourned the death of 82-year-old Pele.

Fernández said the world had lost “one of the greatest footballers in history”.

Macron shared a photo of the King of Football on Twitter.

Biden said that Pele’s rise from humble beginnings to football legend is a story of what’s possible.

Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolence to President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

“Thanks to his talent, unique qualities, beautiful game, football has become the sport of choice for millions of people around the world, including in Russia forever.”. Vladimir Putin

Former US President Barack Obama also held a moment of silence for the Brazilian star on Instagram. “As one of the world’s best-known athletes, he understood the power of sport to bring people together,” Obama wrote.

In the post, he used a photo of him wearing the Brazilian national team jersey with the player. In the piece, Pelé dedicates to the former US president: “To President Obama, with hugs, Edson Pelé”.

The King of Football was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo due to complications from colon cancer.