Brazil legend Pele receiving end-of-life care, reports claim
Fears for the health of Pele mounted last night after reports in Brazil suggested he had been moved to palliative care in hospital.
Brazilian news outlet Folha reported the football legend’s chemotherapy had been suspended and that he was now undergoing measures aimed at relieving pain and a shortness of breath.
The 82-year-old sporting icon has been receiving treatment for colon cancer, having undergone surgery to remove a tumour in September 2021. In response to the reports that Pele had been moved to end-of-life care, France forward Kylian Mbappe, Brazil icon Rivaldo and current Brazil star Vinicius Junior wished him well on social media. Mbappe tweeted: “Pray for the King”, while Rivaldo and Vinicius Jr simply added “Strength King” on their social media pages.
During the BBC’s coverage of yesterday’s Holland-United States World Cup game, fellow World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann said of Pele: “He is always nice to every fan walking up to him and yet he is Pele, the outstanding personality of world football. Obviously this is very, very sad news and let’s just pray for him and hope for the best.”
On Thursday evening, a post on Pele’s Instagram account attempted to ease concern. Attached to a photograph of a “get well soon” message displayed on buildings at the World Cup in Qatar, the icon wrote: “Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit. It’s always nice to receive positive messages like this. Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes!”
His daughter, Kely Nascimento, posted an update on social media the day before, stating there was no cause for alarm. She wrote: “There is no emergency or new dire prediction. Really and truly, we appreciate the concern and love.”
Pele is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time having won three World Cups and scored 757 goals in 831 games during a glittering career stretching from 1957 to 1977.