In wake of the news that Pelé died Thursday, Neymar took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to the soccer legend.
Neymar detailed how “before Pelé, “10” was just a number,” per a Google translation of his Instagram caption. However, he felt that this statement, which he had read before, was “incomplete” and took it a step further.
“I would say that before Pelé, football was just a sport. Pele changed everything. He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to Black people and especially: Gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will remain. Pele is ETERNAL!!”
