Pele calls for worldwide salary cap

Pele has urged Fifa to introduce a salary cap for players and warned that the vast sums of money changing hands in the game could taint its image for future generations.

Pele, in Nigeria to promote Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, said he was concerned the game had changed with the influx of money from billionaire owners.

"My time was a little different – we did not have the big sponsors," he said. "Today they have big sponsors, big companies to support football. But in my point of view and the point of view of Fifa, these [players' salaries] must be controlled.

"You get a player today that they announce in Manchester United, Real Madrid or Milan or any other team, and they kiss their shirt," added Pele "The next day, he goes to another team and he kisses that shirt. This, I think, is something we have to pay attention to for the next generation."

Pele, along with other members of Rio de Janeiro's delegation, are expected to make their pitch to the International Olympic Committee members in Nigeria's capital Abuja later today. Fellow candidates for the 2016 Games – Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid – will also make their case for hosting the event to IOC members. A winner will be chosen in October in Copenhagen.

"You have had a lot of Olympics in the United States, in Europe, but in South America we don't have," Pele said. "Everybody knows Brazil is prepared. Not only Brazil, but the whole of South America."

Brazil will also host the football World Cup in 2014.