Pele dies aged 82: Legendary Brazilian footballer passes away after battle with colon cancer which left him hospitalised for a month to leave the beautiful game – a phrase he coined – in mourning
- Pele has died aged 82 following a period in hospital, having had a tumour removed from his colon last year
- The Brazilian is widely regarded as the greatest footballer ever to have lived, following an incredible career
- Pele is the only player ever to have won the World Cup three times, including at the age of just 17
- He posted on social media on his his 82nd birthday on October 23, when he said he was ‘in good health’
- Pele was one of the most influential people of the 20th Century, and one of the first black global sports icons
The world is mourning Pele, for many the greatest footballer of all, known in Brazil simply as King, who has died at the age of 82. He had been in hospital since late last month.
Daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed his passing with a social media post that said: ‘Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.’
There was a message to the three million followers on Pele’s official Twitter account, too: ‘Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.’
Brazil legend Pele – widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time – has passed away at the age of 82
Pele, pictured here with Marcia Aokoi (left) was admitted to hospital on November 30 with swelling all over his body
Somewhat fittingly, one of Pele’s last posts on social media was about the game he loved and his work in the sport that made him a global icon
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento posted on Instagram with the message: ‘We are thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.’
PELE: DEAD AT 82 AFTER BATTLE WITH CANCER
Pele’s life off the field was just as colourful as his famous Brazil kit – he had seven children, many affairs, mixed with Presidents, acted in films, and even smashed the taboo around Viagra
With Pele’s passing aged 82, football has lost ‘The King’. For so long he was hailed as the greatest player of all time, but now Sportsmail asks: who REALLY is the best ever: Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi or Ronaldo?
Pele has died at the age of 82 following his battle with colon cancer with the world of football in mourning for the Brazil legend
Glowing tributes flowed for the only man to win the World Cup three times, first as a 17-year-old in 1958, again in Chile four years later and then the iconic third win in Mexico in 1970.
In his playing career, he scored 1,282 goals in 1,366 games, which included 77 in 92 appearances for his country.
The Brazilian FA posted a photo of their most famous No 10 celebrating one of those goals and his club Santos posted a sombre image of a golden crown, printing his real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento and the dates of his life.
Earlier this week, Santos added a small crown to their crest, between the stars representing the Intercontinental Cup titles he helped them win in 1962 and 1963.
Neymar, who also emerged at Santos and equalled Pele’s record of 77 goals for Brazil during the World Cup in Qatar this month, released an emotional tribute.
‘Before Pele, 10 was just a number,’ he said. ‘I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life, but this sentence, though beautiful, is incomplete.
‘I would say before Pele, football was just a sport. Pele changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment.
‘He gave a voice to the poor, to the blacks and especially gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He’s gone but his magic remains. Pele is forever. FOREVER!!’
The pictures of Pele from Mexico ’70 still resonate more than half a century on.
He was the outstanding player in an exceptional team, performing with style in their dazzling yellow shirts in the blistering Mexican sun as television beamed the World Cup around the globe for the first time in colour.
Keep up with the latest news and gossip
Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest news and features delivered straight to your inbox
Privacy policy
The tournament reinforced his status as a sporting icon of his generation and images from Brazil’s 1-0 win against England in the group stage in Guadalajara have become woven into the folklore of football.
The save by Gordon Banks to keep out a fabulous Pele header is regularly cited as the greatest of all-time and the touching exchange of shirts with Bobby Moore at the end of the match was a moment to capture the true meaning of sporting respect.
England were the defending world champions. Moore had lifted the World Cup at Wembley after beating West Germany in the final in 1966, but Pele was kicked out of it, injured during a brutal group game against Portugal when Brazil were eliminated.
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento shared an emotional photo hugging her dad in hospital days before his death
+38View gallery
Pele pictured here on February 13 on Instagram, has died aged 82. He had been undergoing chemotherapy for a colon tumour
Sir Geoff Hurst, England’s hat-trick hero of the 1966 final, released a tribute saying: ‘I have so many memories of Pele, without doubt the best footballer I ever played against, with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside.
‘For me, Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you.’
When Pele finally moved on from Santos, it was for three years at New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League and, after his retirement in 1977, he became recognised as an international advocate of what he called ‘the beautiful game’.
Sir Bobby Charlton, the only other survivor of Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 winning XI, said: ‘Pele was a truly magical footballer and a wonderful human being.
‘It was an honour to have shared a pitch with him and I send my sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the Brazilian people.’
Denis Law, another of Pele’s contemporaries, said: ‘This is very sad news indeed. Pele was an unbelievable footballer. He had style, grace, flair and made everything look so easy.
‘The precision in the way he played made him a joy to watch.
‘However, more than anything, he was a good man with a great presence and a fantastic smile.’
Pele was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on November 29.
He had suffered from kidney and prostate problems since surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021.
Even so, the news of his poor health sent shockwaves through the Brazil camp during the World Cup in Qatar.
There were many outpourings of support and defiant messages in reply from the man himself, via his social media platforms and his daughter Kely.
But he suffered a respiratory infection after contracting Covid and learned during care that his cancer had become more advanced. There were other complications and he was kept in hospital over Christmas as his condition deteriorated and he was placed in palliative care.
Mourners will be able to pay their respects at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira, in Vila Belmiro, where he played for Santos. He will be taken there at dawn on Monday and a public wake will begin.
On Tuesday, a parade will take place through the streets of Santos, passing through Canal 6, where Pele’s remarkable 100-year-old mother, Celeste, still lives, heading to the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial, where a private burial will take place for family members.
He will be buried on the ninth floor of the world’s tallest cemetary – the Necrepole Ecumentica Memorial in Santos.
Pele chose the floor as homage to his father, who used to wear the No 9 when he played football.
Pele explained: ‘I chose [the Necrepole Ecumentica Memorial] because of its organisation and structure. It’s a place that transmits spiritual peace and tranquility, where a person doesn’t feel depressed, in fact it doesn’t even look like a cemetery.’
SRC: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
