Concerns grow over the health of football icon Pele
Pelé, has received several messages of support, including one from France forward, Kylian Mbappé, who called on his followers to “pray for the King”
Family members spent Christmas morning with Pelé at the São Paulo hospital where the Brazil great has been receiving treatment for worsening cancer as well as kidney and heart problems, according to a social media post by one of his daughters.
Fans of the 82-year-old have been expressing hope for his recovery since he was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in late November. In the early hours of today Pelé’s eldest daughter, Kely Nascimento, posted a picture of the footballer’s wife, Marcia Aoki, and other family members gathered beside his bed. Pelé was not visible in the image.
“Almost all of us. Merry Christmas. Gratitude, love, union, family. The essence of Christmas. We thank you all for all the love and light you send us,” Nascimento wrote.
On Wednesday, the hospital announced Pelé’s colon cancer was showing “progression” and that he needed “more extensive care to treat kidney and heart failure”. Earlier that day his daughters had announced he would not be home for Christmas.
Edinho, Pelé’s son, who was recently appointed coach of the Brazilian Série B club Londrina, arrived at the hospital on Christmas Eve. He posted a photo on Instagram showing him holding the superstar’s hand, accompanied by the caption: “Father . . . my strength is yours.”
Edinho, a former goalkeeper, arrived a day after having explained his absence at his father’s side to local media. “I would like to be present, but I am committed to my mission here. I’m not a doctor, I couldn’t really help much,” he said in an interview published in the daily newspaper Estadão.
That same day Nascimento shared a photograph of herself hugging her father in the hospital. “One more night together,” the caption read.
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has received several messages of support, including one from the France forward Kylian Mbappé, who called on his followers to “pray for the King”.
Pelé was hospitalised for a “re-evaluation” of the chemotherapy treatments he has been receiving since having surgery to remove a colon tumour in September 2021.
