Cancer patient
Former Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, ‘Pelé’, considered one of the best in the history of the sport, died Thursday at the age of 82 after suffering health problems since the end of November due to cancer. SOURCE: (EUROPA PRESS)
Announcement on social networks
«Inspiration and love marked the path of ‘O Rei’ Pelé, who today passed away peacefully. Love, love and love, forever,» posted the Brazilian’s social network, both on Twitter and Instagram, in a message confirming the death of the soccer legend.
Albert Einstein Hospital of Sao Paulo
The former striker, three-time world champion with the ‘Canarinha’, had been admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in the city of Sao Paulo since November 29 and his health condition worsened as the days went by, despite the fact that both he and his family tried to send reassuring messages.
Chemotherapy and intensive care
‘O Rei’, as he was known, had to undergo surgery in September 2021 to have a tumor in his colon removed and since then he had had regular visits to his doctors for chemotherapy and more than one intensive care admission. In addition, in early 2022 he was reported to be suffering from metastasis.
Entered since November
Pelé was admitted at the end of November and it was his daughter Kely do Nascimento who denied the first reports that he had been transferred to the center’s palliative care. The former player himself, on his official ‘Instagram’ profile, also assured that his presence at the Albert Einstein was due to his «monthly visit».
Refusal of treatment
The hospital clarified that the admission of ‘Pelé’ was due to a rejection of his chemotherapy treatment and the first medical reports of those days were encouraging for the former Santos FC striker, whose state of health remained «stable» despite having suffered respiratory infections. In the picture, with Eusebio.
Palliative care
«He is sick, he is old, but as soon as he feels better he will go home,» Kely do Nascimento said at the time, while his sister Flavia reiterated that the Brazilian soccer star was not in palliative care. «It is very unfair to say that he is at the end of his life and in palliative care. It is not true friends, believe us,» she said. In the picture, with Ronaldo.
Worsening in December
Nevertheless, the former Brazilian player could not be discharged and on December 21 it was reported that he had suffered a worsening of his health condition after «presenting progression of the oncological disease» and requiring «greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions». In the picture, with Raúl González Blanco and the New York Cosmos jersey.
One of soccer’s greatest myths
Finally, Pelé was unable to overcome this delicate situation and passed away this Thursday, leaving soccer orphaned of one of its greatest legends and legends, the only player in history who can boast of being champion in three World Cups.
First World Cup in Sweden
The striker burst onto the world scene at a very young age, in 1957, the year of his debut with the ‘Seleçao’ at just 16 years of age. A year later, he played a key role in leading Brazil to their first World Cup title in Sweden, scoring six goals, two of them in the final against the hosts (5-2). In the picture, in 1962 with Eusebio, in a match between Santos and Benfica.
In Chile, his second World Cup
Four years later, ‘O Rei’ was crowned world champion again in Chile, although he was barely able to play then due to injury, the same situation he experienced four years later in England, where the ‘Canarinha’ failed to advance past the group stage.
Only three-time world champion
In 1970, in Mexico, he got his revenge and was one of the leaders of one of the most renowned Brazilian teams, with Rivelino, Jairzinho and Tostao, which was crowned three-time world champion after beating Italy 4-1, with a goal by ‘O Rei’.
Top scorer in Brazil
Pelé scored 77 goals in 92 matches for his national team, still the top scorer, although equaled by Neymar Jr in the recent World Cup in Qatar, while at club level, the striker played practically his entire career with Santos, where he played from 1956 to 1974, scoring a record 643 goals in 659 matches and winning the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup twice (1962 and 1963), in addition to six league titles. In the picture, with Robinho.
1,283 career goals
The Brazilian finished his career playing three seasons with the New York Cosmos in the United States until his retirement in 1977 and, according to his own claims, although there is no official record, he scored 1,283 goals in his career, although the figure would be significantly lower, with 643 with Santos. In the picture, with presenter Barbara Schoneberger and former players Pelé, Paul Breitner and Bobby Charlton.
Pelé and Diego Maradona
Pelé is considered one of the best players in the history of soccer, a throne in which he rivaled arduously and, many times, dialectically, with the Argentine Diego Armando Maradona, with whom he finally managed to soften their relationship to maintain a mutual admiration until the death in 2020 of the ‘Pelusa’.
