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Pele
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko / dpa
Football legend Pelé is dead. The three-time Brazilian world champion died at the age of 82, his daughter said on Instagram.
Pelé had been in São Paulo's Albert Einstein Hospital since November 29 with a drastically deteriorating state of health.
“Everything we are, we are thanks to you.
we love you forever
Rest in peace,” Nascimento wrote on Instagram.
A black and white photo of the football legend was posted on Pelé's official Twitter account at 8:18 p.m. German time.
»Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who passed away peacefully today.
Love, love and love forever," read the caption.
Family members had recently met in the Albert Einstein Hospital.
The doctors treating him said his cancer was advanced.
He also had to be treated for heart and kidney problems.
In September 2021, Pelé had a tumor removed from his colon.
According to the hospital, the official cause of death is now: multiple organ failure as a result of the progression of colon cancer associated with his previous illness.
The hospital expressed its solidarity with the family and all those suffering the loss.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, as the striker was called by his full name, shaped football like no other.
Pelé was already a legend in his lifetime.
The world association Fifa had named him – like the Argentinian Diego Maradona – the »player of the 20th century«.
With 77 goals in 92 international matches, Pelé is still the Seleção's all-time record goalscorer.
He won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Pelé leaves behind seven children and his wife Márcia Cibele Aoki.
During the World Cup in Qatar, numerous messages were sent from Pelé's Instagram account.
In a recent post, he congratulated Lionel Messi's Argentina national team on winning their third World Cup title and acknowledged the brilliant performance of France's Kylian Mbappé in the final.
dop/hba/Reuters/AP