Football legend Pele dies aged 82

Pele was hospitalised in Sao Paulo on November 29

By Web Desk
December 30, 2022
Pele made his debut as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup — AFP

Brazilian football legend Pele, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has died after battling cancer at the age of 82.

Pele was hospitalised in Sao Paulo on November 29 for what his medical team called a re-evaluation of his chemotherapy treatments, which he has been receiving since having surgery to remove a colon tumor in September 2021.

He had been battling colon cancer since September 2021, and a medical assessment just before Christmas revealed that he required treatment for cardiac and renal dysfunction.

Before Christmas, doctors said that his cancer had "advanced".

The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein said he "presents cancer disease progression and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions".

Family members visited the legendary player on Saturday at the Sao Paulo hospital.

Edinho, Pele's son — who was recently appointed coach of Serie B football club Londrina, based in Parana in the north — arrived on Christmas Eve at the medical center, where he joined his sisters Flavia and Kely Nascimento.

Pele started playing for Santos at the age of 15 and for the Brazilian national team a year later.

At the 1958 World Cup, he made his debut as a 17-year-old.

After defeating South Korea in the 2022 World Cup's round of 16, Brazil's players honoured Pele by holding up a banner bearing his name as the 82-year-old was shifted to end-of-life care after not responding to chemotherapy.

It should be mentioned that Pele is considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

In 659 official matches for the Brazilian team Santos, he scored 643 goals, helping Brazil win three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970.

Meanwhile, in 92 games for his nation's national team, he scored 77 goals.

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