Pele, the Brazilian maestro who was synonymous with football and became arguably the greatest player to have ever graced the beautiful game, has died at the age of 82.

An iconic sporting hero in his native Brazil and around the world, Pele was the only player to win the World Cup three times and had been suffering from kidney and prostate problems in recent years. He was readmitted to the hospital in late November for a respiratory infection and a variety of health issues.

Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital, where Pele was undergoing treatment, announced on Thursday that he died at 3.27 pm local time "due to multiple organ failures resulting from the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous medical condition."

"Everything that we are, is thanks to you," his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote in an emotional post on social media, under an image of family members holding Pele’s hands. "We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."

A statement from Pele's official Instagram account added, "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. 

"On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever."

World unites to mourn Pele

Tributes have poured in following the confirmation of Pele's death, with Neymar, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among those to pay their respects.

Neymar, Brazil's joint-highest scorer in men's international football alongside Pele with 77 goals and the heir to Pele's shirt number, posted two pictures of himself with the legend on Instagram, adding, "Before Pele, '10' was just a number. But that beautiful sentence is incomplete. I would say that before Pele, football was just a sport.

"He transformed football into an art, into entertainment... Football and Brazil gained status thanks to the King. He has gone, but his magic will remain. Pele is ETERNAL!"

Argentina captain Lionel Messi wrote, "Rest in peace, Pele", while French sensation Kylian Mbappe, who, like Pele, also shot to stardom at a young age in the World Cup, said, "The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING."

Earlier this month, Pele congratulated Messi on winning the ultimate glory in football with Argentina in a heartfelt post on Instagram, while offering his consolation to Mbappe after he fell short despite scoring a hat-trick.

"Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way," Pele wrote. "Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved. My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport."

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke Pele's record for most goals in official matches in 2021, said the Brazil icon's "memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers".

"A mere 'goodbye' to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing," the 37-year-old wrote on Instagram. "An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. 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 Pele."

Pele's 1958 and 1962 World Cup-winning teammate Mario Lobo Zagallo added, "My friend of so many victories, titles and shared stories. He leaves an eternal, unforgettable legacy. The person who stopped the world several times."

The Brazilian Football Confederation also paid respect, saying, "Pele was much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time. Our king of football was the greatest exponent of a victorious Brazil, who was never afraid when faced with difficulty. He promised his father a World Cup and he presented us with three.

"The King gave us a new Brazil and we are so thankful for his legacy. Thank you, Pele."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Pele's "magnetic presence" as he hailed his legacy on football around the world.

"When you were with him, the rest of the world stopped," said Infantino. "His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world. His legacy is impossible to summarise in words.

"Today, we all mourn the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pele, but he achieved immortality a long time ago and therefore he will be with us for eternity."

FIFA noted via Twitter that Pele was the youngest-ever world champion, not to mention the youngest scorer, youngest hat-trick scorer, youngest finalist and youngest player to score in a final in World Cup history.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of national mourning on Thursday for Pele, adding he "made Brazil known to the whole world."

In a testament to Pele's global influence, prominent figures including U.S. President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach also paid tribute.

"For a sport that brings the world together like no other, Pele's rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible," Biden said on Twitter alongside a photo of him meeting the Brazil star. "Today, Jill and I's thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him."

The sentiment was echoed by Obama, who said, "As one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together."

"With Pele's passing, the world has lost a great sporting icon," Bach added on Twitter. "As I could experience myself, he was a true believer in the Olympic values and a proud carrier of the Olympic flame. It was a privilege to present the Olympic Order to him."

Pele was named the athlete of the century by the IOC in 1999 and was honored with the Olympic Order, the Olympic Movement's highest award, in 2016.

A transcendent hero and the greatest of all time

It's impossible to overstate the impact Pele had on football. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in a poor family on October 23, 1940, Pele grew up selling peanuts on the street and left home early. He began training with Santos at the age of 15 and would go on to score 619 times over 638 appearances for the club, leading it to a flurry of titles and trophies.

With his athleticism, charisma and dazzling skills, Pele became a global superstar when he drove Brazil to win the 1958 World Cup at 17. "When we won the World Cup, everybody knew about Brazil," he once said. "I think this was the most important thing I gave to my country because we were well known after that World Cup."

Untimely Injury limited Pele to a few games when Brazil defended the world title in 1962, but he was the leading talisman of a thrilling Brazilian team that again reached the summit in 1970, netting the opening goal in the final win over Italy and setting up another goal with an incredible pass.

Pele's popularity was such that he was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and was warmly welcomed by then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan when he visited the country to promote football. "In music there is Beethoven and the rest. In football, there is Pele and the rest," he famously told reporters in 2000.

Pele finished his club career at New York Cosmos and played a huge role in popularizing the beautiful game in the U.S. after his retirement from the national team. He was credited with 1,281 career goals, including non-official matches, in a total of 1,363 appearances. He held countless records in a splendid career and was named FIFA Player of the Century, alongside Diego Maradona.

As his health deteriorated, Pele reduced his personal appearances in recent years. He had been undergoing chemotherapy since he had a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021. He spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at home and eventually lost the long battle with cancer in Sao Paulo.

According to a statement released by his beloved club Santos, Pele's body will be moved from the hospital to the club's Estadio Urbano Caldeira, where the coffin will be placed in the center of the pitch for the public to pay respects. 

A wake will take place on Monday, followed by a funeral on Tuesday. The public ceremony will last 24 hours, after which there will be a procession through the streets of Santos. Then, Pele will be privately buried alongside other family members in the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica.

"If I pass away one day, I am happy," Pele once said. "Because I have tried to do my best." 

Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to take office on Sunday, perfectly summed up Pele's legacy, tweeting, "Few Brazilians have taken our country's name as far as he did ... He didn't just play. He put on an all-out show.

"Thank you, Pele."