Pele’s family gather at his hospital bedside on Christmas Eve

In this file photo taken on December 08, 2005, Brazilian football legend Pele kisses a ball, during a presentation in Leipzig on the eve of the final draw of the Fifa football World Cup 2006. – The hospital treating Brazilian football great Pele announced on December 21, 2022, a “progression” in his cancer, as well as kidney and heart “dysfunctions.” Pele, 82, is being treated in the general ward but “requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions,” said the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Family members visited the legendary Pele on Saturday, December 24, at the Sao Paulo hospital where he is suffering from worsening cancer as well as kidney and heart problems, according to a social media post by his daughter.

Edinho, Pele’s son – who was recently appointed coach of Serie B football club Londrina, based in Parana in the north – arrived on Christmas Eve at the medical center, where he joined his sisters Flavia and Kely Nascimento.

He posted an Instagram photo of himself holding the football star’s hand, captioning it: “Father… my strength is yours.”

The ex-goalkeeper arrived a day after having explained his absence at his father’s side to local media.

“I would like to be present, but I am committed to my mission here. I’m not a doctor, I couldn’t really help much,” he said in an interview published on Friday by the daily Estadao.

That same day, Kely shared a photo of herself hugging her 82-year-old father in the hospital with the caption “one more night together.”

On Wednesday, the Albert Einstein Hospital, where the three-time World Cup winner is staying, announced that his colon cancer was showing “progression” and he needed “more extensive care to treat kidney and heart failure.”

READ: Pele to spend Christmas in hospital as cancer worsens

Earlier that day, his daughters had announced he would not be home for Christmas.

The atmosphere was calm outside of the hospital on Saturday, Christmas Eve, according to AFP.

Pele is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time and has received several messages of support since his hospitalization, including from the French star Kylian Mbappe, who called on followers to “pray for the King.”

Pele was hospitalized in Sao Paulo on November 29 for what his medical team called a reevaluation of his chemotherapy treatments, which he has been receiving since having surgery to remove a colon tumor in September 2021.

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