Despite news that Brazilian football icon Pelé had been hospitalised a month ago due to his battle with colon cancer, some Jamaicans in Kingston and St Andrew were shocked to learn of his death on Thursday.

They professed their love and admiration for the man who they believe was truly the king of football.

Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died in hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was 82.

Dean Ferguson

From mi a go primary school mi a watch Pelé a play football. Pelé is the greatest footballer to ever touch the earth. At the age of 17 dem man deh mek him début. Long live the king! No other footballer can replace that man. All dem seh Messi and Maradona, Pelé a di greatest to ever play football.

Ricardo Simmonds

It is a sad day in football. He was the greatest thing to ever touch the ball. Everything you see dem youth yah a do, dem man deh do it already. I am a young youth, enuh, but when I watch clippings I see how great the real man really was.

Everton Wellington

Pelé a di real king. He set the trend as a very skilled footballer. From me a likkle boy we in Jamaica say Brazil because of Pelé. A later on you start hear people talk about Argentina and Messi. Messi had to learn from Pelé because he set the trend. Football is not just a game, enuh. It is a craft. Brazilians have the craft. Dem eat, sleep and live football. I regret his passing. Death is a road for everybody. It is an uninvited guest. You won’t comprehend.

Seymour

Mi love the football from youth days. Mi nuh stop follow football. I am a Brazilian fan from dem days deh, but dem footballer yah now mi nuh see any of them I would follow. I regret that the king passed. I am going to feel it because him really tell me what football was about. In his time the leather ball was a much heavier ball and if he was able to carry that ball wet or dry so efficiently and score all a dem goal deh; him is a great footballer.

Junior

I watched him on TV. Another legend is gone. I hope the youth dem continue to learn his moves and put it out on the field so we can see it. He was the best.

Tony

He was a great baller. Maradona was my footballer, but Pelé was the greatest black player on Earth. I send my condolence to his family.

Vivienne

Pelé was a great footballer. As a black man, I was very proud of him. I am so sad that he died.

Annette

I am sorry to hear that him drop out, still. He was a good baller. He was admired by nuff young youths. Him set a good example fi dem and t’ing. Mi really sorry fi hear seh him drop out.