The "King of Football" has died at the age of 82. Pele, long considered the standard-bearer of "the beautiful game," has inspired many in Brazil, and his passing has left a huge hole in the country. Among them is Neymar, who offered this tribute to Pele:

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In his Instagram post, the Paris Saint-Germaine star, one of the team's "Big 3" alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, stated that Pele changed the game, transforming it into art and entertainment.

He added, "Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pelé is eternal!"

He also said, "Before Pelé, '10′ was just a number. I read that somewhere at some point in my life. But that line, beautiful, is incomplete. I would say that before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé changed everything."

According to the Associated Press, Pele died of multiple organ failure brought about by his colon cancer, which he had been battling for quite some time now.

He has been undergoing treatment since 2021 but was hospitalized last month as the World Cup was going on. This was due to a COVID-19 infection which got worse due to his cancer.

Pele dazzled the world with his grace and athleticism. He was considered the best soccer player in the world, even if he never played in Europe. However, he proved it by beating European teams with Brazil and in exhibition matches as part of Santos.

Brazil in Mourning After Pele's Passing

As he is considered a national treasure in Brazil, the entire country is in mourning. The Sun reported that Brazilian soccer fans are breaking down in tears after learning about his death. Fans have also started laying flowers and Brazil flags in front of the Maracana, Brazil's premier stadium that hosted many World Cup games.

People were seen breaking down in tears in front of the Albert Einstein Hospital, the place where he was hospitalized and subsequently died due to cancer complications.

Christ the Redeemer, the gigantic statue of Jesus Christ, which has served as a symbol of Brazil, was lit up in the green and yellow of Brazil as a tribute to the late soccer great.

READ MORE: Pelé Cause of Death, Revealed

The Rest of the World Reacts to Pele's Death

The death of the soccer legend resonated throughout the world, from American politicians to fellow Brazilian soccer stars. Here are just some of the tributes that Pele received following the announcement of his death:

Finally, here is FIFA's own tribute to the "Eternal King of Football"

READ MORE: Brazil: Why Do Famous Brazilians Only Go by One Name or Nickname?

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Tributes pour in for Pelé, Brazil's 'king of football' • FRANCE 24 English