‘Another night together’: Pelé ‘fights with faith’ in hospital as family gather

The family of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé have gathered at a São Paulo hospital, prompting concerns about the deteriorating health of the 82-year-old.

Two of his daughters have been at his side in the Albert Einstein hospital for most of this week and they were joined on Saturday by his son Edinho who came from Londrina, 540km away, where he coaches the second division team.

One of his daughters, Kely Nascimento, published a picture on Instagram late on Friday of her hugging her father on his hospital bed with the message: “We’re still here, fighting and with faith. Another night together.” Her sister Flavia Arantes do Nascimento also posted the picture, which showed her sleeping on a couch, on social media.

Edinho shared a picture of him holding his father’s hand. “Dad … my strength is yours,” he wrote.

Pelé was hospitalised on 29 November with complications related to colon cancer that was first diagnosed in September 2021. He has been undergoing chemotherapy ever since but doctors have given few details about his condition.

He also contracted Covid-19 earlier this month and doctors said on Wednesday the cancer had “progressed and [Pelé] required more care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions”.