Brazil Soccer Legend Pele Dies Aged 82

Brazil soccer legend Pele has died aged 82. Pele passed away in a Sao Paulo hospital where he had been receiving treatment since November.

Robert Summerscales | Dec 29, 2022

Brazil Soccer Legend Pele Dies Aged 82 /

Brazil soccer legend Pele has died at the age of 82.

He passed away on Thursday in a hospital in Sao Paulo where he had been receiving treatment since November.

Pele, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, had been suffering with kidney and prostate problems in recent years.

He was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2021.

A week before his death, a statement from Sao Paulo's Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein explained that Pele was requiring "greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions" because of the "progression" of his cancer.

Pele's family, including his daughter Kely Nascimento, spent Christmas by his side in hospital.

On Thursday, his daughter posted on Instagram: "Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."

A portrait of Pele, dated December 2013 — Pele has died aged 82 :: IMAGO/Sven Simon

The family then posted another message from Pele's official account.

It read: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today.

"On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love.

"His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever."

Pele is the only man to have won the World Cup three times, having fired Brazil to global glory in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

He scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil, making him his nation's all-time joint leading scorer along with current captain Neymar.

Pele spent the majority of his club career at Santos before playing for the New York Cosmos between 1975 and 1977.

He was named FIFA's Player of the Century in 2000.

Published Dec 29, 2022

ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.

READ MORE: