Death of Pele, 'the person who stopped the world': What Neymar, Ronaldo, Obama and others said about football legend

Neymar led football's emotional tributes to Pele after the Brazil legend's death on Thursday as the Paris Saint Germain star said his iconic compatriot had transformed the sport "into an art".

Nicknamed "O Rei" (The King), Pele scored more than 1,000 goals before retiring in 1977. Pele had tweeted congratulations to Mbappe when the then 19-year-old became the first teenager to score more than once in a World Cup match since the Brazilian's brace against Sweden in the 1958 final.

"As one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together," Barack Obama wrote.

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a photo of Pele giving the Portugal striker an award, praised him as an "inspiration to millions, a reference from yesterday, today, forever"

Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to take office Sunday, tweeted: "There had never been a number 10 like him."

Messi posted a Instagram photo of himself with the Brazilian alongside the message: "Rest in peace, Pele."

German great Franz Beckenbauer played with Pele at Cosmos and encapsulated the global outpouring of affection. "Today, football lost the greatest man in its history, and I lost a unique friend," he said.

Mario Zagallo, who won the World Cup alongside Pele in 1958 and 1962, said the King had "stopped the world several times" with his talent.

International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach also paid tribute.

"I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against," tweeted Former England World Cup winner Geoff Hurst played against Pele in the 1970 World Cup.

"The King of Kings has died. Extraordinary player. Unique. Three times World Cup winner, more than 1,000 goals. My idol when young. He made football the beautiful game and truly international," said Osvaldo Ardites

Manchester City's record-setting striker Erling Haaland joined the tributes, saying: "Anything you see any player doing, Pele did it first. RIP."

"The world mourns the greatest footballer in history and a wonderful personality. He celebrated the game like no other," former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Twitter.

Didier Deschamps, a World Cup winner as a France player and in his current role as Les Bleus manager, said Pele had "inspired dreams". "With the death of Pele, football has lost one of its most beautiful legends, if not the most beautiful. Like all legends, the King seemed immortal," Deschamps said.

"A Sporting Legend. Rest in Peace King Pele." said sprint legend Usain Bolt.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram: "Pele: Immortal - forever with us."

Pele was a trailblazer throughout his astonishing career, helping popularise football in the United States when he joined the New York Cosmos.