Brazilian football legend Pelé passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 82.
Sao Paulo. Brazil’s soccer legend Pelé is dead. After long treatment, the 82-year-old died of cancer on Thursday afternoon (local time), according to the Albert Einstein Hospital. “Everything we are we owe to you,” Pelé’s daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram. “We love you infinitely, rest in peace.” Pelé leaves behind seven children and his wife Márcia Cibele Aoki.
With the words “I owe you everything we are. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace”, Pelé’s daughter Kely said goodbye.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, as the striker was called by his full name, shaped football like no other. Pelé was already a legend in his lifetime. World governing body FIFA had named him – like Argentinian Diego Maradona – the “Player of the 20th Century”. The striker enchanted the masses with his technical skills and goal-getting qualities even before football became a live TV mass event and billion-dollar business.
As the only player three times world champion
“O Rei” (the king), as he was known, was the only player to win the world championship three times. In 1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico he led the “Seleção” to three World Cup triumphs with outstanding performances. In the triumphant 4-1 win against Italy in the 1970 final, Pelé scored the 1-0. It was his twelfth and last goal in a World Cup tournament. In 1971 he announced his retirement from the national team. With 77 goals in 92 international matches, Pelé is still the Seleção’s all-time record goalscorer.
He spent almost his entire career at FC Santos. Pelé played for the popular club in the port city of Santos near São Paulo from 1956 to 1974 and won, among other things, 26 national titles, once the World Cup and twice the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of today’s Champions League. It wasn’t until he was 35 that he moved to New York Cosmos for two years. He was never under contract with a European club.
Pelé passed away on Thursday. The official cause of death, according to the hospital, was multiple organ failure as a result of progression of colon cancer related to his previous illness. The Brazilian football association CBF published a photo of “King Pele” on Twitter. “Forever” was written above the portrait of the football legend in black and white.
Received only palliative care
Recently, Pelé’s health had continued to deteriorate. The newspaper “Folha de S. Paulo” reported that Pelé no longer responded to chemotherapy. Accordingly, cancer treatment at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo was suspended, and Pelé received only palliative care.
On the Wednesday before Christmas, the hospital announced that Pele’s cancer was progressing and required more intensive care due to kidney and heart problems. Two days later, his daughter posted a photo of her father in bed, both embracing. Among other things, she wrote on Instagram: “One more night together.”
Pelé has also had hip problems and problems with his spine and knees in the past. A kidney stone was removed after a urinary tract infection. During a routine examination, the doctors finally discovered a tumor on the colon, which was removed in late summer.
