Brazilian football emperor Pelé (82) spent Christmas in hospital as his health deteriorated.
On the 25th (Korean time), foreign media such as the Associated Press and AFP reported that Pele’s family was reuniting at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.
Pele, who suffers from colon cancer, has been hospitalized since late last month. The hospital’s medical staff said in a statement on the 21st of this month: “It is clear that Pele’s cancer has progressed further” and that “further treatment is needed for heart and kidney dysfunction.”
Pele’s son Edinho (real name Edsong Sholby Nasimentu) visited his father on the 24th, Christmas Eve. Edinho, who works at a soccer club in southern Brazil, said the day before that only medical staff could help Pele and that he was in a difficult situation to see, but arrived at hospital the next day.
He also posted a photo holding Pele’s hand on social media.
Pele’s daughter Kelly Nacimento previously shared a photo of herself with her sister, Flavia Aranchis do Nacimento, guarding her father’s hospital room.
Embracing Pelé, Kelly commented: “Let’s continue this fight by faith. One more night together.”
In September last year, a cancerous tumor was discovered in his right colon and underwent surgery to remove it, after which he went back and forth to the hospital while receiving chemotherapy.
Shin Min-kyung, Hankyung.com reporter [email protected]
