Pele dies: Sachin Tendulkar to Bhaichung Bhutia, India’s sporting icons pay homage 

The Indian sporting fraternity paid tribute to Brazilian football legend Pele after the three-time World Cup winner died after a prolonged battle with cancer on Thursday. He was 82.

The ‘Eternal King’, as Pele was popularly known, had a colon tumour removed last year. His health deteriorated last month and he was readmitted to Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A hospital statement, on Thursday, stated that Pele died due to multiple organ failure caused by the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous condition.

Soon after the news broke, tributes poured in on social media for the sporting icon, often regarded as one of the greatest players to have graced football.

Shooter Abhinav Bindra, India’s first-ever individual Olympic medallist, noted that the world just lost one of its most valuable assets.

Indian cricketer legend Sachin Tendulkar, who also wore the iconic No. 10 jersey like Pele did in his career, said, “A great loss to not just football but to the whole world of sports. There will never be another! Your legacy will live on forever. Rest in Peace Pele!”

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in 1940, Pele had humble beginnings but went on to become Brazil’s all-time record scorer with 77 goals in 92 appearances.

Pele is the only player to win the FIFA World Cup thrice - 1958, 1962, and 1970. The 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden saw Pele become the youngest player to score in a World Cup at 17 years and 239 days.

He was voted player of the century in a poll of Ballon d’Or winners in 1999 and was named among the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine.

The Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, Olympic medallist Mary Kom and other prominent names in Indian sports also mourned the passing away of the legendary Pele and shared heartfelt messages on social media.

“Deeply saddened as the world mourns and bids tearful adieu to the Eternal King…. He dazzled the world with his skills and rose from the ground to capture our hearts. Obrigada (thanks) Sir Pele for teaching us the true spirit of sports! May your soul find peace!” PT Usha, one of India’s most successful track and field athletes, stated.

Pele visited India three times. The first was in 1977 when the Brazilian flew down for a friendly match against Mohun Bagan in Kolkata while playing for the New York Cosmos. It was the penultimate match of Pele's career. He visited India two more times later – in 2015 and 2018 – as a guest for events.

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia posted a picture of him with Pele while Indian hockey greats Dhanraj Pillay, Viren Rasquinha, and PR Sreejesh also paid their respects. Bhutia even interviewed Pele during a live media event in Delhi.

Pele scored more than 1,200 goals in his career which lasted two decades. It includes more than 1,000 goals for Santos, a Brazilian football club where Pele played from 1956 to 1974.

The Brazilian government has declared three days of mourning following Pele’s death.