“King” Pelé, 82, was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital on Nov. 29 for a reevaluation of his chemotherapy treatment following the detection of colon cancer in Sept. 2021. “Patient has disease progression and requires more extensive care to treat renal and heart failure”, the doctors explain in their health bulletin. The Brazilian remains hospitalized “in a normal room, where he receives the necessary care”the institution continues.
Minutes before this press release was published, two of Pelé’s daughters, Kely Nascimento and Flavia Arantes, had announced on their Instagram accounts that their father would be spending Christmas in the hospital. “Our Christmas at home is off. We have decided, together with the doctors, that for various reasons it is better to stay here, with all the care provided by our new family. (from the Alberto hospital) Einstein”, reads this message, illustrated with a photo of the two very smiling sisters. They wanted to be optimistic, promising a festive atmosphere in the hospital room. “We will turn this room into a sambadrome (it’s a joke) and we will also make caipirinhas (it’s not a joke)“they continued, citing the famous Brazilian cocktail made with lemon and cane alcohol.
“Pray for the King”
The two young women have posted several messages on social networks in recent weeks to reassure Pele’s fans around the world after Brazilian media reported that his health had deteriorated. “As always we thank you for the affection you send us, from all over Brazil and from all over the world”they added. On Sunday, Kely Nascimento posted a photo of her sister Flavia massaging her father’s left foot while watching the World Cup final on TV. Pele’s face does not appear in the photo.
After the match, the three-time world champion congratulated Argentine Lionel Messi on his coronation “deserved” against France. “Congratulations to Argentina! Diego (Maradona, deceased November 25, 2020, ed) scertainly ours at present”Pele wrote on Instagram. During this World Cup, he saw Neymar equal his goalscoring record with the Seleçao (77). The one many consider to be the greatest footballer of all time has received many messages of support since his hospitalization, particularly from French crack Kylian Mbappé, whom he has called out for “pray for the King”.
It was alongside Mbappé that Pelé made one of his last public appearances, in April 2019, in Paris for a promotional event with a common sponsor. He had to be admitted to the American hospital in Neuilly (western suburb of Paris) for a serious urinary tract infection, before going directly to the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo upon his return. By the end of 2014 Pele had already suffered a serious urinary tract infection and had been admitted to intensive care and dialysis.
