"Pele, Critically Ill with Terminal Colon Cancer" Spreads
Team "We Support Your Recovery"
Brazil national football team players are taking a commemorative photo holding a placard engraved with Pel?'s name and face immediately after securing their place in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on the 6th. The Brazil national football team took a group commemorative photo holding a banner that read "Pele!" after securing their place in the quarterfinals on the 6th.
On the morning of the 6th (Korean time), Brazil scored four goals in the first half and won 4-1 against South Korea in the Round of 16 match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup held at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
As soon as the final whistle blew, the team came out holding a banner with the face and name of the "Football Emperor" Pele (82). The players took a group photo centered around the banner.
With news spreading that Pele was critically ill with terminal colon cancer, the team held a cheering ceremony for him.
Pele, who was diagnosed with colon cancer last September and had been repeatedly hospitalized and discharged, had been hospitalized continuously since the end of last month.
Brazilian fans had previously displayed banners featuring Pele during the final group stage match against Cameroon, wishing him a speedy recovery.
Brazil team: "Stay strong, King... We pray for your recovery"
Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) posted photos of fans praying for Pele’s recovery on social media, writing, "Stay strong, King."
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) also wrote on social media, "We support and pray for your recovery."
However, the family directly stated that he is "not critically ill."
They explained that he is undergoing chemotherapy and was hospitalized only due to respiratory illness caused by COVID-19 infection.
Pele’s two daughters, Kelly and Flavia Nascimento, and grandson Arthur Aranchis do Nascimento, told Brazilian media Globo TV in an interview on the afternoon of the 4th (local time) that Pele is not at death’s door, according to AP News.
They explained that Pele, who was hospitalized on the 29th of last month due to worsened respiratory condition caused by COVID-19, is currently in a general ward, not in intensive care.
Pele’s family: "Not critically ill... Hospitalized due to lung disease"
Kelly said, "My father is sick and old. But right now, he is hospitalized due to a lung infection disease," adding, "He will return home once his condition improves."
Meanwhile, Pele was a key figure who led Brazil to win the World Cup three times.
He exploded with six goals starting from the 1958 Sweden tournament at the age of 17, bringing the championship trophy to his homeland.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Pele as the "greatest athlete of the 20th century," beyond just football.
Last month, Pele encouraged the Brazilian players through social media, saying, "Bring the championship trophy home."
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