Football king Pele passed away
Kely Nascimento, Pele's daughter, confirmed on Instagram that he passed away after being treated at Albert Einstein Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil for colon cancer, kidney and heart failure.
"All we have is thanks to you. We love you so much. May you rest in peace," Kelly posted on Instagram, along with a photo of family members holding Pele's hand as she lay on the hospital bed.
Albert Einstein Hospital also said in a statement that Pele died of "multiple organ failure" after a long battle with cancer.
Current football superstars like Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, or former great player Franz Beckenbauer and Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva all simultaneously posted their condolences on social networks.
"Rest in peace, Pele," Messi said, while fellow Pele star Neymar said he had "turned football into art". Mbappe said Pele's legacy "will never be forgotten" and Cristiano Ronaldo called him "an inspiration to millions".
The city of Santos, home to the club Pele played for most of his career, declared seven days of mourning and fans flocked to the team's stadium to lay flowers in his memory.
Many Brazilians also went to the hospital where he died. "Pele is our greatest idol, the greatest football player of all time," said Antonio Perera, 46, who arrived at the hospital with his son Luis Eduardo, 12.
Pele was born on October 23, 1940 in the city of Tres Coracoes, southeastern Brazil, and was named Edson Arantes do Nascimento, after the American inventor Thomas Edison. He grew up selling peanuts on the street to help his poor family make ends meet. He was soon given the nickname Pele due to the mispronunciation of Bile, the name of the goalkeeper at Vasco de Sao Lourenco, where his father played.
Pele shined since the age of 15, when he started playing professionally with Santos. He led the club to numerous trophies, including the Intercontinental Cup in 1962-1963. Pele is the epitome of what is known as "samba football" in Brazil.
He scored an all-time record of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for Santos (1956-1974), the Brazilian national team and the New York Cosmos (1975-1977). In addition to his records, he is also remembered for revolutionizing the sport.
As the first global soccer star, Pele played a key role in the transformation of football into the king's sport, taking advantage of his extraordinary abilities despite being only 1m7 tall. He played with all his heart, as can be seen in the iconic black and white footage of the 17-year-old bursting into tears after helping Brazil win its first World Cup in 1958.
Eight years earlier, watching his father cry as Brazil lost to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final at home, Pele had promised to one day bring the trophy home.
Pele reached the pinnacle of greatness at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he featured in what many consider to be the greatest team of all time, with talents like Rivellino, Tostao and Jairzinho.
He is often warmly welcomed when going abroad with Santos or the national team. Pele turned down offers to play in Europe and signed with the New York Cosmos near the end of his career.
He served as sports minister from 1995 to 1998, being one of the first black cabinet members in Brazil. Pele is also considered close to the government in Brazil.
Pele's public appearances are increasingly rare and he often uses a walker or wheelchair. He was hospitalized several times for urinary tract infections. In September 2021, Pele had to undergo surgery to remove a colon tumor and in November, he was hospitalized to reevaluate chemotherapy, but the progress was getting worse.
Despite lying on the hospital bed, Pele always maintains an optimistic spirit. "I will face this battle with a smile on my face," he posted on Instagram after surgery to remove a colon tumor.
Pele regularly posted on social networks during the Qatar World Cup, including congratulating captain Messi when Argentina won the championship.
