Brazil legend Pele posts firsts message since being moved to ‘end of life care’

Pele has given an update on his health, saying he is “strong” and “very hopeful”, after reports emerged on Saturday that he had been receiving “end-of-life palliative care” in hospital.

Reports in Brazil said the 82-year-old man, who was admitted to hospital last week, was receiving pain-relieving measures in an “end-of-life hospice” ward.

They also said that he was “no longer responding to chemotherapy” in his fight against colon cancer.

But, in a hugely positive announcement, Pelé shared on Instagram that he was doing well and thanked everyone who sent him well wishes.

He said: ‘My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive thoughts. I am strong, with high hopes and following my treatment as always.

‘I want to thank the entire medical and nursing team for all the zeal I have been receiving. I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you, coming from all over the world, keeps me full of energy.

‘And look at Brazil in the World Cup too! Thank you so much for everything.’

He was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday suffering from “general inflammation” and “heart failure.”

An update on Thursday said the three-time World Cup winner was in a ‘stable’ condition in hospital with his daughter Kely insisting there was ‘no cause for alarm’.

However, a report from Folha de Sao Paulo On Saturday, he said that Pelé is no longer responding to the chemotherapy treatment he has been undergoing since last September to treat his bowel cancer.

They said he is now in hospice care and will not undergo any invasive tests or treatment. Hospice care is for patients with life-threatening diseases or conditions and end-of-life care.

Pelé, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

He won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored 643 goals in 659 official matches for the Brazilian club Santos. He scored 77 goals in 92 games for his country’s national team.

His former club Santos, former Brazilian player Rivaldo and French international striker Kylian Mbappé were among those who tweeted well wishes, joining fans around the world.

England captain Harry Kane said: “We send our best wishes to him and his entire family from across the England set-up.” He is an inspiration, an amazing person.

Social networks were flooded with messages from footballers past and present wishing Pelé a speedy recovery.

France international striker Kylian Mbappé tweeted ‘pray for the King’.

Pele’s former club Santos wrote: “Everyone wishes you the best, King Pele.”

Brazil’s current star Vinicius Jr posted fan banners from Friday’s World Cup game against Cameroon and said: ‘Força rei’ [literally, ‘strength to the King’

On Friday, the Albert Einstein Hospital released a statement saying Pele had been diagnosed with a ‘respiratory infection’ that was being treated with antibiotics.

The update said the former player is expected to remain in hospital for continued treatment in the coming days but said his condition was ‘stable’.

In a post on Pele’s Instagram account on Friday, he responded to a ‘Get well soon’ message that was projected onto a building in Qatar, where the World Cup is taking place.

He wrote: ‘Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit. It’s always nice to receive positive messages like this. Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes.’

Pele recorded a video for Instagram on his 82nd birthday back on October 23 and accompanied it with the message: ‘On my birthday, I just want to express my gratitude. Life is good. Turning 82 with my family, in good health, is the best gift. Thank you for everything I have received.’ 

The Thursday update from the hospital had said Pele was in a ‘stable condition’ and ‘in full control of vital functions’ having not been admitted to an Intensive Care United [ICU].

A statement issued to the brazilian media He said: ‘After medical evaluation, the patient was taken to a common ward, without the need for hospitalization in a semi-intensive unit or ICU.

‘The ex-player has total control of the vital function and [in a] stable clinical condition.’

The hospital confirmed that Pele had been hospitalized “for a reassessment of the chemotherapy treatment of the colon tumor identified in September 2021.”

There is no time frame for Pele’s hospital stay, and his wife Marcia Aoki and her caretaker are at his bedside.

However, Pelé’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, who is not in Brazil, had insisted on Tuesday that there was no need to be alarmed and that her father’s hospital admission “is not a surprise or an emergency.”

She posted on Instagram: ‘Lots of alarm in the media today regarding my father’s health. He is in the hospital regulating medication.

‘There is no emergency or new dire prediction. I’ll be there for the New Year and I promise to post some photos.’

Pelé was hospitalized for six days last year and underwent surgery to remove a tumor in his colon. The Globo news site in Brazil said Pelé was undergoing routine examinations at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo when the undisclosed problem was detected.

It came as Brazil fans unfurled a “Get well soon, Pele” banner ahead of their final World Cup group stage match against Cameroon on Friday night.

There were also heartfelt tributes from the Brazil camp before the game.

“We found out the news on Wednesday,” coach Tite said before the game against Cameroon.

‘It is possibly one of the greatest representatives of Brazil. We wish you good health. That is the feeling of all of us who are part of the Brazil team. We wish Pele the best.

Pelé has been battling bowel cancer since he was diagnosed with a tumor in his large intestine at the end of August 2021. He underwent routine exams that were delayed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Four days later, he underwent surgery at the Albert Einstein hospital to remove the tumor and was taken to an intensive care unit several times due to breathing problems.

He began a course of chemotherapy soon after, and in December 2021, he was rushed back to the hospital for further cancer treatment. He was released shortly before Christmas.

Pele returned to the hospital for another round of chemotherapy in February, joking on social media that “hopefully there’s popcorn for the Super Bowl soon.”

When doctors discovered a urinary tract infection, his hospital stay was extended, but Pele was released on February 28.

The octogenarian has also had mobility problems in recent years after three hip operations.