Pele helped popularise football across the US when - with three World Cups under his belt - he briefly joined the New York Cosmos.

He played his last game as a professional footballer during his tenure in the US, in New York's Giants Stadium on 1 October, 1977 - representing Cosmos in one half and his former club, Santos, in the other.

The New York Cosmos paid tribute to their former star player on their website on Thursday., external

"During three seasons with the Cosmos, Pelé helped transform the domestic landscape of the sport of soccer.

"Where once there had been baseball diamonds, now there were also soccer pitches.

"The Cosmos and their King not only started a sporting revolution in America, they also traveled the world to spread the Gospel of the Beautiful Game, representing the world’s most global city at the global game...

"Pelé’s name will forever be synonymous with sporting artistry and genius. His lasting impact on the sport of soccer is inestimable.

"Rest in peace, O Rei."

Image source, New York Cosmos

This is nice from the BBC's man on the ground in Russia...

Image source, Getty Images

Skully: I had the privilege to meet Pele at a Liverpool v Man Utd game around 10 years ago. He took great interest in my young son, Darren, who was with me. I'll never forget telling Darren never to wash his hair again, after Pele patted him on the head.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, PA Media

When the argument of who was the game's finest is conducted - almost always in a World Cup context - Brazil's great rivals Argentina will make the case for the late Diego Maradona, who almost single-handedly, literally according to England after his infamous "Hand Of God" quarter-final goal, took them to World Cup glory in 1986.

Argentines will even offer up Maradona's successor Lionel Messi as another rival to Pele's greatness in an argument that will never be fully settled to the satisfaction of either of these great South American adversaries.

Pele, though, did not have Maradona's dark side, one example of which saw the latter ejected from the 1994 World Cup in the United States after testing positive for the drug ephedrine. Messi, however, has since gone on to claim World Cup glory with Argentina at the 2022 tournament.

Image source, Instagram

Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who himself followed in Pele's footsteps by winning the World Cup earlier this month, has also paid tribute on Instagram.

He posted a picture of himself with Pele along with the message: "Rest in peace, Pele."

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Humfrey: So many of us were too young to see him play, with only videos and stories of a footballing legend. But Pele was a name we've all grown up with. All known as the greatest of all time. Pele is football and the beautiful game is just a little less beautiful tonight.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest to pay tribute to Pele.

He posted a picture of him receiving an award from Pele and wrote: "My deepest condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

"A mere "goodbye" to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that currently embraces the entire world of football.

"An inspiration for so many millions, a reference from yesterday, today, forever. The affection he always showed for me was reciprocal in every moment we shared, even from a distance.

"He will never be forgotten and his memory will live on forever in each of us football lovers. Rest in peace, King Pele."

Image source, Instagram

Image source, Getty Images

Lee Anderton: Pele played when players careers were cut short because they would be crippled because of their brilliance and pitches were farmers fields. Greatest ever player has now left us. R.I.P Pele.

The Football Association have announced that Wembley's famous arch will be lit up in the colours of Brazil, in tribute to the football great.

"Everyone who loves football, loves Pele," the FA statement said.

"His unique talent lit up the game, and inspired football.

"Our thoughts are with his family, the Brazil Football Confederation and the Brazilian people."

The photo of Pele and Bobby Moore embracing after the classic encounter at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico features in this tribute from England.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football

Pele's great rival of the age was Portugal's legend Eusebio, but when the pair were in opposition in the 1962 Intercontinental Cup, played between the winners of the Copa Libertadores and the European Cup, there was only one winner.

Pele was on target twice in Santos' 3-2 win against Benfica in the Maracana before scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 victory in return at the Stadium of Light.

In Brazil, Pele will also be associated with the white shirt of Santos, for whom he scored 619 goals in 638 appearances which, coupled with his glorious deeds for his country, gave him - in his homeland at least - the undisputed title of the game's greatest player.

Image source, Getty Images

All the greats of the game, past and present, will have looked up to and been inspired by Pele - the first real global football icon.

Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is the latest to pay tribute to the man he describes as a hero.

Robert Weaver: The debate over who has been the greatest player will rage on, but there is no question whatsoever that Pele was the greatest icon & ambassador for the beautiful game.

Brazil star Neymar has now joined an outpouring of tributes amid news of the death of "King Pele".

In a post on Instagram, Neymar says: "Before Pele, '10' was only a number. I read this phrase somewhere, sometime in my life.

"But this phrase, beautiful, is incomplete.

"I would say that before Pele, football was solely a sport.

"Pele changed everything.

"He transformed football into art, into entertainment.

"He gave voice to the poor, to black people, and most importantly: He gave visibility to Brazil.

"Football and Brazil elevated their status thanks to the King!

"He is gone, but his magic will stay.

"Pele is eternal!!"

It was a goal from Pele that knocked Wales out of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden at the quarter-final stage.

It was the first of his 77 goals for Brazil in 92 appearances.

On Thursday, the Football Association of Wales paid homage to the man who brought down the national team's hopes of victory:

Image source, PA Media

Matt Healey: Pele - an absolute magician and part of the best team I’ve ever seen play even though the 70 World Cup was before I was born. May he rest in peace.

Katy Watson
South America correspondent in São Paulo

Brazil’s King is dead – and the whole country is in mourning.

Pelé was, of course, a global icon - but for Brazilians, it was so much more personal – he was a national treasure, a hero and a footballing legend.

And the entire country had been waiting - and dreading - this moment.

His daughter, Kely Nascimento, had been posting regular updates of her father’s condition on social media.

On Thursday afternoon, a picture of the family holding hands was posted, with the words: "Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."

Whether an older Brazilian who remembered him as a player, or a younger Brazilian who was told about his phenomenal skills, the whole of Brazil saw him as an admirable elderly statesman in a country that has been pulled apart by partisan politics in recent years.

Pelé was above all of that: he was footballer - an icon - for everyone.