Brazilian soccer star Pelé with his family in Sao Paulo hospital as cancer worsens

Doctors said earlier this week that Pelé’s cancer was advanced, adding the three-time World Cup winner is under “elevated care” related to “kidney and heart dysfunction.” No further hospital statements have been released since then.

Edson Cholbi Nascimento, one of Pelé’s sons and known as Edinho, arrived on Saturday, a day after he gave a press conference to deny he was going to visit his father in hospital. Edinho, who works for a football club in southern Brazil, said at the time that only doctors could help his father.

“He (Edson) is here,” said Kely Nascimento, one of Pelé’s daughters, in a post on Instagram with a picture of her sitting next to Edinho and two of his children in the hospital. “I’m not leaving, nobody’s going to get me out of here.”

Hours later, Edinho, a former Santos goalkeeper, posted a picture showing his hand holding his father’s.

“Dad… my strength is yours,” Pelé’s son said.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known worldwide as Pelé, had a colon tumor removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital said if it had spread to other organs.

Kely Nascimento and her sister Flavia Arantes do Nascimento took to their social media channels on Friday night to post an undated picture of Pelé, apparently holding Kely with one hand while lying on his hospital bed and Flavia sleeping on a couch .

“We continue to be here, in this fight and with faith. Another night together,” Kely Nascimento wrote.

The hospital has not mentioned any signs of Pelé’s recent respiratory infection, which has been made worse by COVID-19.

The Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported last weekend that Pelé’s chemotherapy had not worked and doctors had decided to put him on palliative care. Pelé’s family denied this report.

Pelé led Brazil to victory at the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and remains one of the all-time top scorers with 77 goals. Neymar equaled Pelé’s record during the last World Cup.