RTE sports presenter Des Cahill has paid a touching tribute to three-time World Cup winner and football legend Pele who passed away on Thursday.
The Brazilian, 82, who lost his battle with colon cancer, had been in a hospital in Sao Paulo in Brazil since November.
Former Sunday Game Host Des recalled meeting the icon on a number of occasions while he was in Ireland and said he had a “warmth” about him.
Cahill said Pele, who previously said he scored more than 1,200 goals during his playing career, attended a number of events for which he was the MC.
Speaking yesterday, the 63-year-old said: “Everybody in the world knows the name Pele, there is very very few people like that.
“The image of him is a happy one of that bright yellow shirt. His incredible balance, speed, pace.”
Des described Pele as a “hugger” and said he had the ability to work a room.
He also recalled a story in which the Brazil icon described him as a “friend”.
During an interview with RTE'S Morning Ireland, Des said: “He was here several times … and he did have a warmth about him.
“On one occasion, I was MC with him twice within two weeks and obviously he didn’t know who the hell I was but warm and friendly.
“The second time when he was back someone said ‘Oh Des is the MC’” and said that Pele responded with “‘Oh my friend, how are you?’ … he hadn’t a clue but he had that warmth.
“He’d work the people and he’d work the room.”
While former Ireland ace Liam Brady said: "He was the best player in my opinion. It's a generational thing I think when you're judging players.
"In 1970 he was absolutely brilliant in the World Cup in Mexico and I think he stamped his mark then on being the greatest player ever to play."
He continued: "I was watching clips of him and the Netflix series just recently a few weeks ago and not only could he score incredible goals - he could score any kind of goal - but he could dribble, he could head the ball, he could shoot from distance.
"But he was also very unselfish as well. If he had players in a better position than himself he would play them in."
Brady added in an interview with RTE's Morning Ireland: "He was just out of this world and I suppose Maradona followed after him, another generation, and then we've had Messi win the World Cup.
"So it's a difficult argument about who was the greatest player ever. In my opinion, he was because I was lucky enough to see him."
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