Brazilian soccer icon Pele calls on Putin to stop 'wicked' Ukraine invasion

FILE PHOTO: Legendary Brazilian soccer player Pele poses for a portrait during an interview in New York, U.S., April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

(Reuters) - Brazilian soccer legend Pele made a public plea on Wednesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his "wicked" and "unjustifiable" invasion of Ukraine, minutes before Ukraine's national team played in a World Cup qualifying game.

"I want to use today's game as an opportunity to make a request: Stop this invasion. No argument exists that can justify violence," Pele said in a statement published on Instagram.