This December 29 at around 1:00 p.m. Mexico City time, they confirmed the death of Pele at 82 years of agevictim of health complications derived from colon cancer that he suffered from since 2021. The legendary soccer player was receiving palliative care in the intensive care area of the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, in his native Brazil. ‘O King’ He was admitted on November 29 and the doctors reported that he also suffered from kidney and heart failure. The prognosis was not optimistic.
It was his daughter Kely Nascimentowho through a post on Instagram shared the sad news.
“Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace,” wrote the heiress of the iconic player, without giving further details, along with a photo where the joined hands of various members of Pelé’s family appear.
On Christmas weekend, the family of Edson Arantes Do Nascimento met in the hospital room where the sports star was under intensive care, as his daughter shared on social networks.
“Almost every. Merry Christmas. Gratitude, love, togetherness, family… The essence of Christmas. We thank all of you for all the love and light that you direct our way. In this crazy and amazing life, I would be nothing without them. Today and always: Merry Christmas, happy everything,” he said. Kely Nascimento.
In the photo appears the wife of ‘El Rey’, Marcia Aoki, his three oldest children and some grandchildren, but the idol of the court is not seen. Your son Edinho, Former goalkeeper and now coach of the Londrina club in Sao Paulo, shared an emotional image of him holding Pelé’s hand with the message: “Father, my strength is yours.”
Days before, Kely revealed the fragile state of her father’s health with a moving image hugging him in the hospital bed. “We are still here, in the fight and in the faith. One more night together, ”she wrote then her.
The health problems that ended the life of ‘O Rei’
Pelé underwent surgery in September 2021 to remove a tumor, after being diagnosed with aggressive colon cancer. However, at the beginning of 2022, doctors detected that he suffered from metastasis: the cancer reached his lungs, intestines and liver.
As reported by Folha de Sao Paulo, Pelé’s body no longer responded correctly to chemotherapy and he was admitted to the hospital to re-evaluate the treatment. Days later, the hospital reported that she was also treating him for a respiratory infection that, according to her daughters, she suffered as a result of a Covid-19 infection.
On Sunday, December 18, the Brazilian idol congratulated Lionel Messi Yet the Argentine National Teamfor being crowned champions in the World Cup Qatar 2022. “Certainly Diego is smiling now”, wrote ‘O Rei’ remembering Diego Armando Maradona, perhaps the only one who is at his height in the football Olympus. Since then he has not posted on his social networks again.
His health worsened during the week leading up to Christmas Eve, due to “kidney and heart dysfunctions.” So the world began to prepare for the worst, while still waiting for a miracle.
On December 26, it was leaked that Santos, the Brazilian team where he forged his career, began to prepare the Vila Belmiro stadium for the funeral and send off Pelé as he deserves: in a big way. In addition, as a tribute to its greatest idol, the club announced that its shield will bear a crown over the two stars that represent Brazil’s world titles from January 2023, collects Mark.
‘Best Player in History’, the last title Pelé received while alive
The same weekend, Pelé received an award as ‘The best player in the history’awarded by the beer firm Budweiser. The person in charge of receiving it was Neymar Jr.who now wears number 10 in the Brazilian National Team.
“As you know, Pelé is part of my history. Rey, our love and respect for you will be eternal,” the PSG forward declared in an Instagram video.
“The tribute is beautiful and very important, not only because Pelé is the only player to have won three World Cups, but also because there have already been various ‘players of the match’ in various eras of soccer. But ‘Player of History’, only one,” he added.
In his networks, Neymar wrote that Pelé is “the one who makes football his kingdom”, that “instead of creating wars, he stopped one”, that he “used his power to charm the world”, that he “challenged sovereignty”, ” he was revered”, “he made his own dynasty”, “he inspired the youth”, “he built an empire” and “he managed to raise the golden cups”.
It was not only the best of the game. It was the best in history”, said the footballer.
A relationship of mutual admiration
Just a couple of weeks ago, Pelé congratulated Neymar on Instagram for equaling his record as Brazil’s top scorer with 77 goals during the World Cup.
“I watched you grow, I cheered you on every day and finally I can congratulate you for matching my number of goals with the Brazilian team. We both know that this is much more than a number. Our greatest duty as athletes is to inspire. To inspire our fellow professionals today, the next generations and, above all, to inspire all those who love our sport”, wrote the legendary footballer on December 9.
“My record was set almost 50 years ago, and no one has been able to come close to it until now. You did it, boy. Cherish the greatness of your achievement, @neymarjr,” he added. “I am 82 years old, and after all this time, I hope I have inspired you in some way to get here… I will continue to punch the air with happiness with every goal you score, as I have done in every game I have seen you on the pitch” Pele concluded.
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