Pelé published a message urging Vladimir Putin to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions.

"Today Ukraine tries to forget, at least for 90 minutes, the tragedy that still engulfs their country," Pele wrote in an open letter to Putin, posted on Instagram just before the Ukrainian men's football team faced Scotland in a World Cup playoff semi-final.

"I want to use today's match as an opportunity to make a request: stop the invasion. There is absolutely no justification for this continued violence.

This conflict is wicked, unjustifiable and brings nothing but pain, fear, terror and anguish... Wars only exist to separate nations, and there's no ideology that justifies projectile missiles burying the dreams of children, ruining families and killing the innocent.

When we met in the past and exchanged smiles accompanied by a long handshake, I never thought one day we would be as divided as we are now. The power to stop this conflict is in your hands. The same ones I shook in Moscow at our last meeting in 2017."