Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has paid tribute to the all-time footballing great Pele who passed away aged 82 this afternoon after a battle with cancer.
The Brazilian was in hospital over the past three weeks as doctors re-evaluated his chemotherapy which had stopped treating his colon cancer, which he was diagnosed with in September last year.
Pele led his country to three World Cup wins, and stands level with Neymar as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 77 goals in 92 appearances. His recent hospitalisation had seen an incredible outpour of support from the football community, including players like Kylian Mbappe and fans wishing him well.
READ MORE: Brazil legend Pele dies aged 82 following World Cup hero's cancer battle
A statement on the Brazilian's Instagram account confirmed the news, which read: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, 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."
Taking to social media, Shearer posted a photo of him and the Brazilian legend along with the caption "RIP legend. You made the game beautiful. You were an absolute superstar."
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