Pele’s daughter says she and her family are enduring ‘sadness and despair’ in emotional social media post as 82-year-old Brazilian soccer icon approaches one month in hospital
The daughter of Brazilian football great Pele has posted a philosophical caption alongside a family photo to social media as her famous father continues his fight for life.
Pele’s family has gathered in the hospital as his condition worsens – with Kely Nascimento sharing yet another moment from the hospital as Pele nears one month in the hospital.
The three-time World Cup winner’s cancer has advanced and doctors at Albert Einstein hospital recently said he’s under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.”
Pelé was admitted to the Sao Paulo facility on Nov. 29. The hospital has not published any updates in the past week.
Taking to Instagram, Nascimento posted a photo of his family, including his sister Flavia and Pele’s grandchildren, Octavio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes.
‘These moments are hard to explain,’ Nascimento wrote. Sometimes there is a lot of sadness and despair, other times we laugh and talk about fun memories.
Kely Nascimento posted a photo of her smiling family as her father, Pele, remains in the hospital
‘And what we learn most from all this is that we have to look for each other, and hold tight. Only when it’s all worth it. With it all together’
On Tuesday, she posted a happier photo of her family and the Brazilian great at a Gala Pequeno Principe, a healthcare center, event.
‘Time flies, happy moments are forever,’ she added to the lovely image.
Nascimento also shared a photo on Christmas Day from the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with an emotional caption.
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento shared an old photo of her alongside him at an event
She took to her Instagram profile again later in the day to express her gratitude to the medical staff at the hospital.
‘We always have a lot to be thankful for, even spending Christmas in the hospital we are aware of the privilege it is to be in a hospital like @hosp_einstein,’ she wrote.
‘To see our father treated by these professionals, super competent and extremely affectionate.’
Greats such as Rivaldo, and football fans from around the globe, have paid tribute and prayed for the health of one of football’s most famous sons.
She posted a photo of his family on Instagram Christmas Day night alongside a post thanking hospital staff for caring for the 82-year-old soccer great.
The Brazilian legend had a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021 but was readmitted to the hospital last month.
A hospital statement released last week said Pele needed further care ‘related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions’.
The daughter of Pele confirmed family members would spend Christmas with him in hospital with grandchildren also joining.
Pele is widely considered Brazil’s greatest ever player and he was able to watch his country’s campaign at the World Cup in Qatar, despite being in hospital.
Pele, who is considered one of the greatest footballers ever, won three World Cups with Brazil
He burst on to the global scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup, helping Brazil to the first of their record five successes, before also winning the 1962 and 1970 World Cups with the national side.
One of Pele’s former rivals, Romario, has wished the Brazilian football legend well in a recent video on social media.
Speaking to Ge Globo, Romario said: ‘King, get better. So much faith. The whole world is looking and praying for you. Improvements! I kiss your heart.’
Former Brazil striker Romario spoke to Brazilian TV to wish Pele better in a recent video
.