Brazilian Legend and Football icon, Pelé dies aged 82 after battling with various illnesses.
Over the course of a 21-year career, he is credited with scoring a world-record 1,281 goals in 1,363 games, including 77 goals in 92 international games.
Pele was selected as Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000. Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, taking home the trophy in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
In recent years, he had experienced kidney and prostate issues.
After the tumor was found during routine tests, Pele underwent surgery to have it removed from his colon in September 2021 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. In the final days of November 2022, he was readmitted to the hospital.
Kely Nascimento, his daughter, regularly posted updates on social media from the hospital to inform her followers of her father’s condition.
“Everything we are is thanks to you,” she wrote alongside a photo of what appeared to be Pele’s family holding his body in the hospital on Thursday. You have our undying love. Peace be with you.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, rose to fame when, at the age of 17, he assisted Brazil in winning the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. By the knockout rounds, he had forced his way into the starting lineup.
He scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Wales in the quarterfinals, three goals in a comeback victory over France in the semifinals, and two goals in a 5-2 victory over the hosts in the championship game.
At the age of 15, Pele made his club debut for Santos, scoring in a 7-1 victory over Corinthians de Santo André.
