fSoccer legend Pelé has responded to a media report about his allegedly critical health with a social media statement meant to express confidence. “My friends, I want everyone to remain calm and positive. I’m strong, I have a lot of hope and I’m sticking to my therapy as usual,” the 82-year-old Brazilian’s Instagram account sent to his more than ten million followers on Saturday evening.
Pelé: “Gives me new strength”
“I would like to thank the entire medical and nursing team for the care I received. I firmly believe in God and every message of love I receive from all over the world gives me new strength.” The statement concluded with a request: “Watch Brazil at the World Cup! Many thanks for everything.”
The newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo had previously reported that Pelé’s chemotherapy for colon cancer was no longer having the desired effect. “O Rei”, the king, is now being treated with palliative care. Palliative medicine is dedicated to the treatment of people with advanced disease whose life expectancy is estimated to be low. The report from the well-known newspaper went around the world correspondingly quickly.
Numerous active and former players expressed their condolences. “Praying for the king,” wrote France’s Kylian Mbappé on Twitter. England captain Harry Kane spoke of “sad news”. Brazil’s former world champion Rivaldo also reported to the short message service. “Be strong, king,” tweeted the 50-year-old. At the World Cup in Qatar, Brazil’s national coach Tite had already wished the 82-year-old the best on behalf of the entire team. Get well wishes were projected onto the facades of several buildings in Qatar.
Before the Seleção’s last World Cup preliminary round match against Cameroon (0-1) on Friday, Brazilian fans in the stadium in Lusail also held up an oversized jersey with the message “Get well soon”. Brazil’s current international Rodrygo tweeted a photo of the choreography: “Be strong, King Pele! I pray and cheer on you for your recovery!” Pelé was world champion with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Pelé’s treating physicians, meanwhile, only commented on the status of the respiratory infection that the idol developed during his hospital stay in a bulletin on Saturday evening: “The clinical picture has not worsened in the last 24 hours,” it said.
Pele was admitted earlier this week to what his doctors said was a “re-evaluation” of the chemotherapy he’s been undergoing since the removal of a colon tumor in September last year.