Tributes flow as Brazil legend Pele turns 81

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pele marked his 81st birthday on Saturday as tributes poured in from fellow Brazilian football greats.

The former Santos and New York Cosmos star celebrated with his family at home in Sao Paulo, where he is recovering from surgery to remove a tumor from his colon.

"I take this opportunity to thank all of my friends from Brazil and all round the world who have wished me