Relatives accompanied the legendary Pelé this Christmas at the Sao Paulo hospital where he remains hospitalized with deteriorated health due to cancer, according to publications by his children on social networks.
After midnight in that area of Brazil (local time), Kely Nascimento, one of Pelé’s daughters, posted a photo on Instagram with the former soccer player’s current wife, Márcia Aoki, and other relatives, at the Albert Einstein Hospital , where the former star is hospitalized.
“Almost every. Merry Christmas. Gratitude, love, togetherness, family. The essence of Christmas. We thank you all for all the love and light you send,” Kely wrote in the post, in which Pelé did not appear.
In the photo with Kely are Flavia and Edinho, also Pelé’s children, and their granddaughters Sophia and Stephany, among others.
Edinho, recently appointed coach of the Londrina club (Paraná, south), arrived on Saturday in the capital of São Paulo, where he joined his sisters to accompany the 82-year-old former gunner.
“Father… my strength is yours,” he wrote on Instagram under a photo holding his hand.
The former goalkeeper traveled to Sao Paulo despite having previously excused himself: “I would like to be present, but I am committed to my mission here (at the club). I am not a doctor, I could not really help much, ”he said in an interview published on Friday by the Estadao newspaper.
On Friday night, Kely shared a photo hugging Pelé in the hospital bed where he has been hospitalized since November 29, and wrote: “We are still here, in the fight and in faith. One more night together.”
The hospital did not report on Saturday about the health of the historical idol of the ‘Canarinha’.
In its last part on Wednesday, the medical team reported that Pelé had a “progression” of the colon cancer he is facing and was receiving care for “kidney and heart dysfunction.”
The former star is “admitted to a common room,” the hospital added.
That same day, the daughters reported that she would not be coming home for Christmas.
“Our Christmas at home was suspended (…) For various reasons, it will be better for us to stay here, with all the care that this new family [del hospital Albert] Einstein gives us,” Kely said on Instagram, from the hospital.
Pelé was initially admitted for a reassessment of his chemotherapy treatment against colon cancer, detected in September last year, and to treat a respiratory infection derived from a recent covid infection, as reported.
global concern
The health of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, three times world champion with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970), keeps this soccer fanatic country awake.
The Santos club, where he debuted and was forged, will place a crown over the shield on his shirt next season, in homage to the ‘Rei’, reported the local press.
During the World Cup in Qatar-2022, Pelé received various tributes and wishes for improvement from soccer stars, such as the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé or the English captain Harry Kane.
The legendary Brazilian watched the World Cup on TV in his hospital room, they showed several photos of his daughters.
After the elimination of Brazil in the quarterfinals and the frustration of the dream of the six-time championship, he dedicated an extensive post to his ‘Seleçao’.
Last Sunday, he watched the final between Argentina and France. And, after the triumph of the Albiceleste, he congratulated Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team for the third world title.
“Certainly Diego is smiling now,” he said in a message alluding to the late Diego Maradona.
Since then, Pelé has not posted on his social networks again.
