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Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940. Here he was photographed at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on September 2, 2017. Credit: Xavi Torrent / Getty Images
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Pelé, dressed in his Santos jersey, smiles before playing a friendly match against French club "Racing" on June 13, 1961. Credit: AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé is the son of another soccer player, João Ramos do Nascimento, known as "Dondinho".
In this photo, Pelé dribbles past a defender during a friendly match between Malmoe and Brazil on May 8, 1960. His team won 7-1.
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Pelé with his mother Celeste Arantes in March 1965. Credit: AP
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17-year-old Pelé cries on the shoulder of goalkeeper Gylmar Dos Santos Neves (right) after Brazil's 5-2 victory over Sweden in the World Cup final on June 29, 1958. Credit: AP
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The Brazilian soccer team poses before the World Cup final in Stockholm on June 29, 1958. Brazil defeated Sweden 5-2 and won their first World Cup.
Credit: AP
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Friendly match between Brazil and Atlético de Madrid on June 21, 1966 at the Santagio Bernabeu stadium before the World Cup.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images
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His nicknames are "Pérola Negra" (Black Pearl), "O Rei" (The King) and "Dico".
Credit: Lemyr Marvins / Getty Images
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Pelé with his teammates upon his arrival in the UK for the 1966 FIFA World Cup on June 25, 1966. Credit: Len Trievnor / Daily Express / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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July 1966: Despite his disappointment, Pelé congratulates the Portugal team after beating Brazil 3-1 in the 1966 World Cup. Credit: Central Press / Getty Images
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He started playing soccer professionally at the age of 15.
His position was that of center forward, his jersey number was 10, and he played for Club de Fútbol Santos from 1956 to 1974. Credit: AP
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Pelé embraces Mario Zagallo after the latter's appointment as coach of the Brazilian soccer team, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 19, 1970. Credit: AP
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Pelé celebrates with his teammates as he holds the FIFA Jules Rimet Cup following Brazil's 4-1 victory against Italy at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 21, 1970. Credit: AP
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With this victory at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, Pelé became the first player to win three World Cups.
Credit: AP
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Pelé makes the victory sign on December 20, 1971 during a press conference in Paris.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé, surrounded by a large crowd on March 30, 1971 on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Credit: STAFF / AFP via Getty Images
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In 1975 Pelé signed a contract to play for Cosmos in New York.
In the photo the Brazilian plays against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 19, 1977. Credit: AP / Jim Bourdier
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Pelé enters the field before a crowd of 73,669 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey on August 25, 1977. Credit: AP / Ray Stubblebine
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Pelé, center, with other former Santos players, pose next to the Libertadores trophy during the team's centennial celebration in Santos, Brazil, on April 14, 2012. Credit: AP / Nelson Antoine
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Pelé poses at the new "Friends Arena" in Solna, near Stockholm, during a meeting with former players from the Brazilian and Swedish national teams on August 14, 2012. Credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP via Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II, on a tour of South America, smiles after giving Pelé a drink in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 10, 1968. On the left is Prince Felipe.
Credit: AP
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Pelé appears with Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" on May 9, 1973. Credit: AP / Allen Green
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May 8, 1973: Pelé holds a football that he signed for US President Richard Nixon.
Credit: AP / Henry Burroughs
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Pelé during an interview at New York's Rockefeller Plaza in July 1975, when he was a Cosmos player.
Credit: AP / Suzanne Vlamis
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Artist Andy Warhol, left, takes a picture of Pelé to paint a portrait of the footballer, on July 27, 1977 in New York.
Credit: AP / Claudia Larson
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Pelé with Pope John Paul II during a private audience at the Vatican on March 18, 1987. Credit: AP / Arturo Arturo Mari
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Pelé together with presenter Maria das Graças Meneghel (known as Xuxa) during the 36th edition of the Cannes film festival on May 14, 1983. Credit: RALPH GATTI / AFP via Getty Images
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A photo of two sports icons that marked the second half of the 20th century: Pelé and Muhammad Ali, photographed on November 19, 1999. Mark Sandten / Bongarts / Getty Images
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January 12, 1997: Portugal's Eusebio and Pelé meet before the announcement of the FIFA Player of the Year.
Credit: Getty Images
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Pelé with Frenchman Just Fontaine on July 7, 1998. Credit: PEDRO UGARTE / AFP via Getty Images
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Joao Havelange, then president of FIFA, Pelé and Joseph Blatter, general secretary of the federation.
Credit: JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP via Getty Images
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May 23, 1988: Pelé with Argentine Diego Maradona and Frenchman Michel Platini in France.
Credit: AP / Lionel Cironneau
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Diego Armando Maradona photographed in a hammock with Pelé, during a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday, May 13, 1995. Credit: AP / G. Copolla
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November 2, 2000: Sir Elton John and Pelé with the FA Cup in the players' dressing room at Wembley Stadium, London.
Credit: Clive Mason / ALLSPORT
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March 26, 2000: Pelé attends the Brazilian Grand Prix and greets David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella on the podium.
Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé hugs Diego Maradona on December 11, 2000 at a FIFA ceremony in Rome, Italy.
GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP via Getty Images
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Franz Beckenbauer of Germany, Pelé of Brazil and Bobby Charlton of England smile for a photo during the preliminary draw for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea / Japan in Tokyo on December 7, 1999. Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé congratulates Ronaldo after the 2002 World Cup final at the Yokohama Stadium in Japan on Sunday June 30.
Credit: AP / Dusan Vranic
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Pelé in a meeting with former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 17, 2007. Credit: FIFA / BACKPAGEPIX / AFP via Getty Images
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The former soccer player has several memoirs, including "Pelé: My Life and the Beautiful Game", "My Life in Pictures" and "Pelé: The Autobiography".
Credit: from PAUL ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé promoting a book on April 1, 2014 in New York City.
Credit: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
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Cristiano Ronaldo receives the 2008 FIFA Footballer of the Year award from Pelé on January 12, 2009. Credit: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé greets architect Oscar Niemeyer on November 4, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Credit: AP / Felipe Dana
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France's Eric Cantona and Pelé at a New York Cosmos team event in London on August 2, 2011. Credit: AP / Sang Tan
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Pelé and singer Gilberto Gil during a screening at the Cannes film festival on May 18, 2005. Credit: FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé along with Colombian singer Shakira and FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the Ballon d'Or ceremony on January 9, 2012. Credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
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January 9, 2012: Lionel Messi, Pelé, Sir Alex Ferguson, Dani Alves, Neymar, Ronaldo and Lothar Matthäus pose at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
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Pelé is photographed together with former players Kaká and David Beckham before the final of the 2014 Brazil World Cup at the Maracana Stadium on July 13 in Rio de Janeiro.
Credit: Jamie Squire / Getty Images
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Pelé cries as he receives an honorary Ballon d'Or during a ceremony in Zurich on January 13, 2014. Credit: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé talks to children during the inauguration of a soccer field in the Mineira favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 10, 2014. Credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images
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Pelé poses with French soccer player Kylian Mbappé at an event in Paris on April 2, 2019. Credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
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February 7, 2003: Christie's auction house shows some of Pelé's objects;
a jersey worn by him after the 1970 World Cup, a pair of gloves from when he scored his 1000th goal and a letter of authenticity from his original contract with Santos FC from 1960. Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP via Getty Images
(CNN) -
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has left the hospital where he was being treated for cancer, he said in a tweet on Thursday.
"The photo of me smiling is not in vain. As promised, I am going to spend Christmas with my family. I am going back home. Thank you for all the kind messages," he said on his official Twitter account.
A photo sorrindo não é a toa.
As eu havia lhes promised, you will passar o Natal with a minha família.
You are returning home.
Obrigado by all mensagens de carinho.
pic.twitter.com/w6n3djwCiK
- Pelé (@Pele) December 23, 2021
Pele, 81, was hospitalized on December 8 for chemotherapy treatment for a colon tumor, a spokesman for the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo confirmed to CNN at the time.
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A glimpse into the life of Pelé
Pelé, whose name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, participated in four World Cups, of which he won three with his team (1958, 1962 and 1970).
Pele
