Football icon Pele is no more. The three-time World Cup winner, who is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time has passed away at the age of 82. His family has confirmed the news on Thursday. The legendary footballer had been battling colon cancer for some time and was admitted in a hospital for a respiratory problem on November 29.
Pele’s family confirms his death
“Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace,” daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram.
A message from Pele’s official Twitter account on Thursday read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”
A inspiração e o amor marcaram a jornada de Rei Pelé, que faleceu no dia de hoje.
Amor, amor e amor, para sempre.
.
Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today.Love, love and love, forever. pic.twitter.com/CP9syIdL3i
— Pelé (@Pele) December 29, 2022
At the age of 82, he breathed his last following colon cancer, for which he was undergoing chemotherapy. However, Pele stopped responding to chemotherapy and was shifted to palliative care. Pele had a tumor removed from his colon in 2021 and was taking chemotherapy ever since.
Born in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, the legendary footballer is the joint highest goal-scorer for the Selecao, with 77 goals in 95 games. His record was tied by current Brazil sensation Neymar, during the team’s quarter-final loss in the World Cup earlier this month. Pele became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, netting twice in the final to defeat hosts Sweden.
As a professional footballer, he won the FIFA World Cup a total of 3 times which still remains a record for an individual footballer. Edson Arantes do Nascimento or popularly known as Pele and was born on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Brazil.
The Brazilian football player, also termed ‘The Greatest’ by FIFA, had been married thrice. He had a total of 7 children. Pele had cheered for the Brazilian team during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Qatar from the hospital bed.
