Brazil footballing legend and three-time World Cup winner,Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pele has died at the age of 82.
Pele burst on to the global scene as a teenager at the 1958 World Cup, helping Brazil to the first of their record five successes in the competition.
In September 2021, Pele was treated for colon cancer and also underwent a surgery to remove a tumour in September 2021.
The beloved Legend was however admitted back into hospital at the end of November to re-evaluate his cancer treatment, he was diagnosed with a respiratory infection before subsequently being moved to palliative care when his body became unresponsive to chemotherapy.
Pele officially scored 757 goals in 831 games during a glittering career from 1957 to 1977.
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento who confirmed his demise, wrote on Instagram: ‘We are thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.’
The latest post on his Instagram page reads –
Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love.