Claire Dawson
Brazilian football legend Pelé was admitted to hospital in December 2022 for a respiratory infection and to re-evaluate his cancer treatment. The 82-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, had surgery to remove a tumour on the right side of his colon in September 2021 and had been receiving chemotherapy. While his family and hospital staff had initially sought to reassure fans that he was in stable condition and feeling 'strong', his health worsened, and he died on 29 December 2022 due to multiple organ failure, a complication of colon cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 82 |
| Health Condition | Stable |
| Hospital Name | Albert Einstein Israelita Hospital |
| Hospital Location | São Paulo |
| Treatment | Chemotherapy |
| Cancer Type | Colon Cancer |
| Other Health Issues | Respiratory Infection, Cardiac Issues, Renal Dysfunction |
| Family | Daughter: Kely Nascimento |
| Fan Support | Yes |
| Death | 29 December 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
Pele's health status
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is considered one of the greatest football players of all time. He was born on 23 October 1940 and played for the Brazilian national team from 1956 to 1974, scoring more than 1,000 goals for the club. He won the FIFA World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962, and 1970, and is the only player to do so.
In recent years, Pelé has faced several health challenges. In September 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a tumour on the right side of his colon. He was readmitted to intensive care a few days later and started chemotherapy after his release on 30 September 2021. In November 2022, he was hospitalized again due to "general swelling," cardiac issues, and concerns about the effectiveness of his chemotherapy treatment. Despite these setbacks, Pelé remained positive and assured his fans that he was strong and following his treatment as usual.
In December 2022, Pelé's health condition made headlines again. He was admitted to the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, where it was reported that his tumour had advanced, and he required additional care for renal and cardiac dysfunctions. As a result, he was unable to spend Christmas at home with his family. At this time, Pelé's family provided updates from his hospital bed, and his daughter, Kely Nascimento, reassured the public that there was no emergency.
Sadly, Pelé passed away on 29 December 2022, at the age of 82. His death was a result of multiple organ failure, a complication of colon cancer. The football legend's death certificate listed kidney failure, heart failure, bronchopneumonia, and colon adenocarcinoma as the causes.
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His family's response
Pele's family has been actively involved in sharing updates about his health and responding to media reports and rumours. On December 3, 2022, Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, took to Instagram to address the media frenzy surrounding her father's health. She clarified that there was no emergency and no "new dire prediction" regarding his condition, reassuring fans that she would be with him for New Year's and sharing optimistic messages.
Nascimento's Instagram post echoed the sentiments expressed by Pele himself, who urged his followers to remain "calm and positive." In his message, Pele emphasised his strength and hope, stating that he was following his treatment as usual and drawing energy from the messages of love and support he received from around the world. He also expressed his faith in God and encouraged people to watch Brazil in the World Cup.
Pele's family was by his side during his hospitalisation, with reports indicating that they were together at his bedside on Christmas Eve. The family shared updates about his health, dispelling rumours of any dire predictions or emergencies. They emphasised that Pele was strong and responding well to treatment for his respiratory infection.
The outpouring of support and concern for Pele's health extended beyond his family, with well-wishers from around the world, including football stars and organisations, sending messages of encouragement and admiration. England football captain Harry Kane, for instance, praised Pele as an "inspiration" and an "incredible footballer and incredible person."
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Pele's social media posts
Friends, I want you all to be calm and positive. I am at the hospital making my monthly visit as I continue my treatment. I want to thank Qatar for the tribute and everyone who has sent me good vibes and messages of love. I have a lot of faith in God, and your messages keep me full of energy. I am strong and have a lot of hope. I will be watching Brazil in the World Cup, and I hope you will too!
I want to thank all my fans for the outpouring of love and support. I am stable and strong and will continue my treatment as usual. I want to thank my family for their support, especially my daughter Kely, who has kept everyone updated on my condition. I appreciate everyone respecting my privacy during this time.
I want to provide an update on my health. I am currently being treated for a respiratory infection, and my health has not worsened. I am responding well to treatment, and my condition is stable. I appreciate all the positive messages and good vibes. I am strong and have faith that I will get through this. Thank you to all my fans for your support.
I am grateful for all the love and support I have received from around the world. It has been a challenging time, but I am strong and will continue to fight. I want to thank my family, friends, and medical team for their support and dedication. I am blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I will continue to provide updates on my health and appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers. Thank you, my friends.
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His football career
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He was born on 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil, and grew up in poverty. As a young boy, he developed a talent for soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.
Pelé's professional football career began in 1956 when, at the age of 15, he signed a contract with Santos FC. He made his senior team debut the same year, scoring the first goal of his career in a 7–1 victory. In his first full season, he became the top scorer in the league. At Santos, Pelé led the club to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores, and the 1962 and 1963 Intercontinental Cup. He is Santos's all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals in 659 games.
Pelé debuted for the Brazilian national team in 1957 at the age of 16. He rose to international fame at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where he scored five goals, including two in the final against Brazil, leading the country to its first World Cup championship. Following his impressive performance, Pelé was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian government, making it legally difficult for him to play for clubs in other countries. He went on to help Brazil win two more World Cup championships in 1962 and 1970.
Pelé played professionally for two decades, winning three World Cups, before joining the New York Cosmos late in his career in 1975. He played 64 official games for the American club before retiring in 1977. He finished his career with a total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies, which is recognised as a Guinness World Record. After retiring, Pelé remained active as a worldwide ambassador for football and made many acting and commercial ventures.
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His legacy
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in history. Born in 1940 in Brazil, Pelé faced financial struggles growing up and could not afford a football, so he stuffed socks and moulded them into the shape of a ball. Despite this, he went on to have a highly successful career, playing 694 club football matches and scoring 650 goals, as well as playing 92 national team matches and scoring 77 goals.
Pelé's talent was recognised at a young age, and he was signed to Santos FC in 1956, scoring a goal in his debut match just three months later. He quickly rose to fame, becoming a household name and achieving superhero status in Brazil after helping his country win the 1958 World Cup. The Brazilian government honoured him as a "national treasure".
Pelé continued to excel, consistently being a top scorer even when facing teams that altered their play specifically to counter him. He scored 60 goals in the 1964 season and an incredible 101 goals the following year. He considered retiring while he was on top in 1970 but was convinced to play one last World Cup for Brazil in Mexico, contributing to their tournament win with goals and assists, and earning the Golden Ball award.
After retiring from the Brazilian team in 1971 and bidding farewell to Santos soon after, Pelé surprised his fans by joining the New York Cosmos in 1975. His presence in the North American Soccer League (NASL) helped grow the sport's popularity in the region, with ticket sales rising as people turned up to watch the soccer legend play. He led the Cosmos to a championship before retiring for good, marking the end of a remarkable career that solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Pelé's legacy is summed up by France star Kylian Mbappe, who tweeted after his death: "The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING."
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Frequently asked questions
No, as of December 2022, Pele was in stable condition in the hospital.
Pele was admitted to the hospital for a respiratory infection and to re-evaluate his cancer treatment.
Pele is in stable condition and responded well to treatment for his respiratory infection.
It is unclear whether Pele stopped chemotherapy. However, there were reports that it was not working, and he was put on palliative care.
Unfortunately, Pele passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82.
