Cristiano Ronaldo’s Powerful Message After Passing of Pele

• Cristiano Ronaldo paid a glowing tribute to the late Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele
• Pele’s death was confirmed on Thursday, December 29, after a long battle with cancer
• He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football
• Cristiano, who is also in the conversation of the greatest ever, said in his message that “a mere goodbye would never be enough”

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was among the first big sporting name to pay a glowing online tribute to the late football legend Pele.

Pele, who had been suffering from kidney and prostrate problems in recent years, succumbed to illness peacefully on Thursday, December 29.

After undergoing surgery to remove a tumour in his colon in 2021, Pele was once again readmitted to hospital in November 2022, which would prove to be the last time he would be admitted, per BBC.

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He is widely considered to be the greatest football player ever, and has the impossible record of being the only player to have won three World Cups: in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

A post on Pele’s social media handle on Thursday evening read:

"Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever."

Moments after his death went public, Ronaldo went to his own social media to share a powerful message to his more than half a billion followers.

“My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.” He started.

“A mere "goodbye" to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever.”

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“The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pelé”

Ronaldo and Pele were not necessarily close, but there was certainly a mutual respect between the two.

Notably, the football world considers both players as among the top three best ever footballers in the history of the sport.

Both are known for their goal-scoring prowess, both for clubs and internationally.

Pele became a global star at the age of 17, when he helped his Brazil team win the 1958 World Cup.

Quite impressively, he went on to force his way into the starting XI in the knockout stages of that edition of the competition in Sweden.

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Sports Brief also reported on an incident that saw Pele denied a chance to play an exhibition match in Nairobi and Mombasa during his Kenya tour in 1976.

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The then football head honcho Kenneth Matiba decried lack of consultations and thus refused to facilitate Pele's visit.

In 1976, Pele engaged students at the Starehe Boys Centre as part of an initiative he had signed with the Pepsi company.