Confusing on the meadow, Pelé has, off the field, had a life that has not followed a straight path.
The Brazilian, who died on Thursday, nevertheless founded a family at the age of 26 when he was in the middle of his adventure with Santos.
In 1966, “O Rei” married Rosemari Cholbi.
From their union are born two girls and a boy.
Kely Cristina, born a year after her parents' marriage, precedes her brother "Edinho" and her sister Jennifer, who were born in 1970 and 1978 respectively.
What Rosemari, her children, and potentially Pelé himself may not have known is that the Brazilian star had already left a child to a former girlfriend.
Sandra was born in 1964 from a love story between the legend of the Seleçao and Anisia Machado, a maid.
Read alsoDeath of Pelé: in Santos, in the footsteps of the “King”
Pelé himself admitted having difficulty resisting women who courted him.
“I had a few affairs, some of which resulted in children but I only heard about them later,” assured the former footballer in the
Netflix
documentary “Pelé”.
The latter never agreed to recognize Sandra and to submit to DNA tests.
The courts recognized her as his daughter.
The Brazilian never rewarded the fight of his first child, determined to prove the paternity of his parent, even after the death of Sandra, suffering from cancer, in 2006.
Marcia Aoki, 26 years her junior
Pelé did not hide his infidelity during his relationships.
“My first wife knew everything.
I have never lied to anyone,” he said.
Thus, Flavia was born in 1968 from an extra-marital relationship between the footballer and the journalist Lenita Kurtz.
This time he recognized his daughter as such.
Finally, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, of his full name, and Rosemari divorced in 1982. The South American will wait twelve years before remarrying.
He then binds to the singer Assiria Seixas Lemos, who gives birth to twins in 1996: Joshua and Celeste.
With the two youngest, now 26 years old, the number of children recognized by Pelé rises to seven. 75 years old.
His new sweetheart, Marcia Aoki, is a businesswoman.
Of Japanese origin, she was born in Sao Paulo, almost 26 years after her husband.
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On Christmas Eve, Marcia was present at his bedside, surrounded by Joshua and Celeste Nascimento, Kely Cristina, Flavia and “Edinho” Nascimento.
Together, they accompanied Pelé until his last breaths.
Despite his escapades, the three-time World Cup winner has given and received a lot of love, fans, women and children alike.