Brazilian football legend Pelé has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin demanding an end to the war in Ukraine as the war-torn country took a break from the conflict to compete for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Pelé wrote in an open letter to Putin, which was posted on Instagram ahead of Ukraine’s 3-1 victory over Scotland in the semi-final of the first track of the European World Cup qualifiers.

“I want to use today’s match as an opportunity to make a request: stop the war, there is absolutely no excuse for continuing the violence,” said the three-time world champion.

He added: “This conflict is evil and unjustified and brings nothing but pain, fear, horror and pain… Wars exist only to divide peoples, and no ideology justifies rockets that bury childhood dreams, destroy families and kill innocents.”

Pele recalled his meeting with Putin in the past and exchanging “smiles followed by a long handshake”.

“You have the power to stop this conflict. The one you shook hands with in Moscow at our last meeting in 2017,” he wrote.

Ukraine will play Wales in the final on Sunday to make up for lost time in qualifying to play in Group B alongside England, the US and Iran.