Pele Dead: Athletes React After Soccer Icon Dies at 82 Following Battle With Colon Cancer

usmagazine.com:

The loss of a legend. Iconic soccer star Pelé, widely considered to be the greatest player of all time, died on Thursday, December 29, after a battle with colon cancer.

He was 82.“Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today,” a statement on the Brazilian athlete’s Instagram account read on Thursday. “On his journey, [Pelé] enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love.

His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”Per a statement from Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital, where Pelé was undergoing treatment for his health issues, the beloved athlete died at 3:27 p.m.

local time “due to multiple organ failures resulting from the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous medical condition.”Tributes to the late sports hero immediately poured in on social media upon the news of his death.“All that we are is thanks to you,” Pelé’s daughter Kely Nascimento wrote via Instagram in Portuguese. “We love you infinitely.