Brazilian football legend and Brazil’s former Minister of Sports, Pelé, has passed away at the age of 82.
According to a report by CNN, he was admitted to a hospital late last month due to a respiratory infection and colon cancer complication. As his cancer had worsened over the last week, he passed away yesterday (December 29) from multiple organ failure.
“Everything that we are, is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace,” his daughter, Kely Nascimento shared.
Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is known to be the world’s first sports icon, as he played 4 World Cups and is the only person in history to win 3 of them. He had risen from poverty to become one of the planet’s greatest athletes of all time.
“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” he had once said.
The world has truly lost an icon, though his legacy will certainly live on.
Rest in peace, Pelé, and thank you for all that you’ve done for the sporting world.
This post first appeared on WORLD OF BUZZ.
