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Tributes to Pelé pour in as world leaders pay their respects

Deemed one of the greatest to ever play ‘the beautiful game’, the football legend is credited with raising the profile of the sport and Brazil

Current Brazilian football star Neymar said: “Before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything.”
Current Brazilian football star Neymar said: “Before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything.” Photo: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

World leaders and some of the biggest names in football paid tribute to Pelé, who rose from poverty to become a global ambassador for what he called “the beautiful game”.

The 82-year-old died on 29 December after a long battle with cancer.

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