As the tributes are pouring in from across the world on the Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, mourners in the UAE were led by none other than Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, himself, who paid tribute to the mega star through his Twitter account.

Sheikh Hamdan tweeted: “You carried an inspirational message to our youth in Dubai and helped them accomplish their dreams. “Heroes come and go, but legends are forever” Kobe Bryant #KOBEBRYANT.”

The sudden demise of the American basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who perished in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, left the Emiratis grief-stricken as well.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman of DP World and Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, expressed his sadness and deepest condolences to the family of the basketball star.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem remarked: “My deepest condolences to @vanessabryant and the family of @kobebryant . Number 24 will forever be with us. Here is to my greatest of all time.”

DJ BLISS (Marwan Al Awadhi) says: “So sad. RIP Mamba. Prayers for the family. Life too short sometimes. Don’t take it for granted. Damn. I wasn’t even into basketball until Kobe came to Dubai and I was chosen to play in the team he coached. Ever since I started living basketball. Thanks man. #ripkobebryant #ripgigi”

Bryant’s death triggered a chain of tributes from other parts of the world as well including the sports and showbiz stars.

All-time basketball great Michael Jordan said Bryant was “like a little brother” to him.

“Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling,” the former Chicago Bulls star said. “We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much.”

“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” Barack Obama tweeted.

“Laker Nation, the game of basketball & our city, will never be the same without Kobe,” former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson tweeted.

American football star Tom Brady wrote simply: “We miss you already Kobe.”

At the Australian Open, Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios wore a Lakers jersey before he took on Rafael Nadal.

Nineteen-time Grand Slam champion Nadal put on a Lakers cap after his win and called Bryant “one of the greatest sportsmen in history”.

Spanish football giants Real Madrid held a minute’s silence ahead of Monday’s training session, with club captain Sergio Ramos pictured in the No.10 shirt Bryant wore with the US national team.

At the Staples Center in Los Angeles, crowds of shocked fans gathered to pay tribute as the venue, which witnessed many of Bryant’s career highlights, hosted the music industry’s Grammy Awards.

Singer Alicia Keys paid a sombre tribute at the Grammys.

“To be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now,” Keys told the audience.

“Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that kobe Bryant built.”

In New York, Madison Square Garden was lit up in purple and gold alongside a giant image of Bryant captioned: “kobe Bryant, 1978-2020.”

Neymar dedicated his second goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 win at Lille to Bryant, whose death in a helicopter crash earlier on Sunday shocked the world.

“It’s deeply saddening for the world of sport and for all of us,” said Neymar to Canal+ after the win, which put PSG 10 points clear at the top of the league. Not just for basketball fans, but for everything he did for sport.”

The crash came only hours after Bryant was passed by current Lakers star LeBron James for third on the all-time NBA scoring list in a Saturday game at Philadelphia.

Bryant’s final post on social media had been a tweet congratulating James.

Agencies