Brazilian football legend Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, passed away at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, after losing a battle with colon cancer on Thursday. He was 82.
Late in November it was reported that chemotherapy was suspended and that Pelé was under palliative care, being treated only for symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath.
The former Brazil Minister of Sport had a tumour removed from his colon in September last year and had been receiving regular hospital treatment.
Pelé, who was regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, was admitted to hospital to re-evaluate his cancer treatment and later diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
He was drafted into the Brazil national team when he was 16 years old and he’s the only player to have won three World Cup trophies (1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico).
Between 1957 and 1971, the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker scored 77 goals in 92 appearances in a Brazil shirt. Overall, he scored 1279 goals in 1363 games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) named the Brazilian as its athlete of the century in 1999. A year later, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) voted him as the world player of the century.
