Pele to spend Christmas in hospital as football icon’s health worsens

Pele receiving palliative care – reports

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Pele will be kept in hospital over Christmas as his health has worsened during a battle with colon cancer, according to an update from his medical staff. The Brazilian football icon watched most of the World Cup from a hospital bed after he was brought in for doctors to evaluate his treatment last month. 

The 82-year-old was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2021 and the latest update has explained how he requires care for renal and cardiac issues. He remains at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where his worsening condition means he will stay over Christmas. 

Pele has also been battling a respiratory infection, which was diagnosed after his latest trip into hospital. A statement from his medical staff began: “Admitted since November 29 for a reassessment of chemotherapy therapy for colon tumor and treatment of a respiratory infection, Edson Arantes do Nascimento presents progression of the oncological disease and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions.

“The patient remains hospitalized in a common room, under the necessary care of the medical team.”

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Pele has been in and out of hospital since his initial diagnosis last year and his daughter, Kely Nascimento, claims that messages of support are providing him with comfort. “Your love for him, your stories and your prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Let’s turn this room into a Sambadrome [just kidding], let’s even make caipirinhas [not kidding!!].” Pele put together a remarkable career at club and international level, becoming Santos’ record goal-scorer and surging to World Cup fame at the age of just 17.

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In 1958, the Brazilian hero scored twice in the final to down hosts Sweden 5-2 and he went on to win the World Cup two further times. Racking up a superb 77 goals in 92 caps for the Selecao, Pele spent decades as the country’s all-time leading scorer before Neymar recently joined him on the same total. 

While watching on from hospital, the current Brazil side fell short in Qatar as Croatia beat them in a quarter-final penalty shootout. Following an epic final between Argentina and France, Pele delivered a message for both Lionel Messi, who won the trophy for the first time in his illustrious career, and Kylian Mbappe, who came out on the losing side despite scoring a hat-trick and burying his spot-kick in the shootout.

“Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way,” he wrote on Instagram. “Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved. My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final.

“What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport. And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It’s great to see Africa shine. Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego [Maradona] is smiling now.”

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