Pelé’s Family Spend Christmas By Brazil Football Legend's Bedside In Hospital

On the occasion of Christmas, Pelé's family members gathered at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo where the Brazilian football legend has been since November end.

Last week, doctors said that the 82-year-old star's cancer had advanced, reported the Associated Press. They added that he is under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.” Kely Nascimento, one of Pelé’s daughters, posted a photo on Instagram on Friday. She captioned the photo of the two, “We continue to be here, in fight and in faith. One more night together." The photo showed her hugging her father, who was lying on a hospital bed. Pelé’s granddaughter Sophia could also be seen in the image.

She also shared a photo with her brother, Edinho, who is a Brazilian footballer and coach, after he arrived at the hospital on Christmas Eve, reported CNN. Edinho reached the hospital one day after he organized a press conference to deny that he would visit his father in hospital. He had said then that only doctors could help his dad.

Nascimento said on Instagram, "He (Edinho) is here." It was a caption of a photo that showed her sitting next to Edinho and two of his children at the hospital. Hours later, the former Santos goalkeeper posted a picture that showed his hand holding his father’s. He wrote, "Dad... my strength is yours."

Pelé was hospitalized on Nov. 29 for a re-evaluation of his chemotherapy treatments, reported Al Jazeera. The global icon has been receiving the treatment since having surgery to remove a colon tumour in September 2021. The hospital has not said anything about any signs of the three-time World Cup winner's recent respiratory infection, which was aggravated by COVID-19.

Earlier this month, newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported that Pelé’s chemotherapy was not working and that doctors had decided to put him on palliative care, but his family denied it.

The star led Brazil to victory in the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, and he remains one of the team’s all-time leading footballers with 77 goals. Football player Neymar tied Pelé’s record during the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar that concluded last week.