Brazil: Pelé, a three-time World Cup champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of soccer, has passed away at 82. The death was announced on social media by his daughter Kely Nascimento.
“All that we are is thanks to you, we love you forever. Rest in peace,” Kely wrote on social media.
Brazil has planned 48 hours of national mourning. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, will likely be laid to rest in Santos, southeast of Sao Paulo, where he played for the local team from 1956 until 1974.
The coffin carrying the star will leave Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo early morning on 30th 2022 and will be placed in the center circle of the field. Visitation will start Monday at 10 a.m. and finish the next morning. A private funeral will follow attended by his family.
Pelé had been in and out of the hospital over the past year as he fought colon cancer. In November, Albert Einstein Hospital announced that his cancer had advanced and that he was in palliative care. The hospital confirmed Pelé died at 3:27 PM local time from multiple organ failure due to cancer.
The football player underwent chemotherapy in December 2021 to treat a suspected colon tumour before being admitted to the hospital. He had written that he was healing in an Instagram post.
In the previous year, Pelé had assuaged concerns about his health and kept praising the support of the fans.
Career
The legendary player began playing at 13 with a youth team in Bauru. At 15 and he began playing professionally with the National team.
Pelé emerged as a superstar with his performance during Brazil’s victorious 1958 World Cup, and he played his entire career in Brazil with Santos at just 17. The player scored an astounding 618 goals in 636 games with Santos and won six Brazilian league titles.
Pelé won two additional World Cup titles in 1962 and 1970. He is the only player to win three World Cups and one of only two players alongside teammate Vava to score in two World Cup finals for winning sides.
The legend scored 77 goals in 92 international appearances. Brazilian forward Neymar tied his national record during the 2022 World Cup, just weeks before Pelé’s death, by tallying his 77th goal in a match against Croatia.
Pelé’s last game on 1st October 1977, an exhibition game between the Cosmos and Santos, was played before a sellout crowd at Giants Stadium. Pelé played one half for each team.