Pele, a legendary player in Brazilian football, has away after a long battle with cancer, according to his agent Joe Fraga.
He had been hospitalized since November with multiple ailments. On Thursday, his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote a tribute to her father on Instagram: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
The three-time World Cup champion, whose true name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was 82 years old and also dealing with kidney and heart issues.
In September 2021, Pele had a colon tumor removed. On November 29, he was checked into the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo.
His colon cancer was “progressing,” the hospital reported on Wednesday, and he required “more comprehensive care to treat kidney and heart failure.”
Pele, widely regarded as the game’s most gifted player, guided Brazil to three World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. With 77 goals in 92 games, he continues to be the top goal scorer for Brazil.
Following Argentina’s World Cup victory last week in Qatar, Pele shared a photo of his squad hoisting the trophy on social media and praised performances by captain Lionel Messi, rising sensation Kylian Mbappe of France, and surprise semifinalists Morocco.
He stated, “Today, football continues to tell its tale in a fascinating fashion, as it always has. What a joy it was to witness this display of our sport’s future.
Brazil players and fans in Qatar also unfurled banners on and off the pitch with an image of the football great and wishes for his recovery.
