Soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, died on Dec. 29 in a Sao Paulo hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 82.
The Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo confirmed the soccer icon died from multiple organ failure caused by complications from colon cancer.
Pelé was moved to hospice care when his body stopped responding to treatment and his organs began failing. He was surrounded by his family when he passed away.
All of Brazil is in mourning for the three-time World Cup champion, pictured with Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona in 2016. Pelé and Maradona were soccer’s biggest stars who helped popularize the sport in the United States. Maradona died of heart failure in 2020.
Barack Obama and Sylvester Stallone were among the many stars and dignitaries paying tribute to Pelé on Thursday.
“Pele was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game,” former president Obama tweeted.
“And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him.”
Pelé was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him. pic.twitter.com/urGRDePaPv
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2022
Stallone, who starred alongside Pelé in the 1981 film “Escape to Victory”, wrote on Instagram: “PELE THE GREAT! Rest in peace! This was a good man.”
Pelé was married three times, and fathered at least seven children with multiple women. His daughter Sandra Machado, whose mother was Pelé’s housemaid, died of cancer in 2006 at age 42.
