Platini: "At school, I signed "Peleatini"

Former French footballer and FIFA president Michel Platini reacted to the death of legendary Brazilian striker Pele, who died on December 29 after a long battle with cancer.

"He was the history of football, the discovery of football, he was football. I was 15 years old in 1970 and grew up imagining him playing. My father talked to me about Pele. At school, by the way, I subscribed to Peleatini.

Even if we didn't always see him play, we only talked about him. He was not a man, not a football player, he was a football god. I am very, very touched. This is my life. This is my story. This is Pele. This is my dream. I saw his achievements and I always remembered his World Cup in 1970," Platini was quoted as saying by L'Équipe.