Brazil legend Pele’s family gathered at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where the 82-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has lived since late November.
Doctors said this week that Pele’s cancer had advanced and that he needed care for kidney and heart failure. His family said he will stay in São Paulo hospital over the festive period.
Pele has received regular medical treatment since the removal of a polyp from his colon in September last year.
“Almost all of them. Happy Birthday. Gratitude, love, teamwork, family,” his daughter said Kelly Nascimento wrote on Instagram With a picture of their family in the hospital.
“The essence of Christmas. Thank you all for all the love and light you send.”
The son of Pele Edinho, who played for Santos in the 1990s, He posted a picture of him holding his father’s hand to Instagram on Saturday, with the caption, “Dad…my strength is your strength.”
The hospital reported no signs of Pele’s recent respiratory infection, which was exacerbated by COVID-19.
The Folha de S.Paulo reported last weekend that Pele’s chemotherapy was not working and that doctors had decided to place him on palliative care. Pele’s family denied this report.
Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.