The sports world recognizes and dismisses Pelé as a legend

Nadal, Gasol, Bolt, Hamilton or Márquez react to the death of 'O Rei'

MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Pelé's death this Thursday, at the age of 82, unleashed a barrage of reactions beyond football and even beyond sport, with the recognition of other world figures in different disciplines such as Rafa Nadal, Pau Gasol, Marc Márquez or Usain Bolt. .

'O Rei' passed away in Sao Paulo after a month in the hospital due to the advance of colon cancer, which he had been fighting for more than a year. With the news of his death, the tributes to the soccer myth and legend followed one another, as they will continue in the coming days.

In addition to the great soccer players in the world such as Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé or Neymar, the memory extended to other sports. Thus, the Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal left an emotional message on his Twitter account. "Today a great world sport is leaving. A sad day for the world of football, for the world of sports. His legacy will always remain," he wrote.

"I didn't see him play, I didn't have that luck, but they always taught me and told me that he was the king of football," added a Nadal who is in Australia to play the United Cup.

In the same way, the former Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol referred to Pelé's death with a "rest in peace", while the Jamaican Bolt, king of speed and eight-time Olympic champion, defined the Brazilian as a "sports legend ", in another message on Twitter with a photo of him with 'O Rei'.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton also echoed the news by posting Pelé's own message on social networks: "Inspiration and love marked the path of 'O Rei' Pelé, who passed away peacefully today Love, love and love, forever."

Another great champion of his sport, the Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Márquez paid tribute to the three-time world champion with an "Obrigado Pelé".