Brazilian football legend, Pele has reportedly been moved to an end-of-life ward at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo after he stopped responding to chemotherapy.
According to the a tweet by Folha, a Brazilian outlet, the 82-year-old icon is no longer responding to the chemotherapy he has been undergoing for bowel cancer since last September, and he will not undergo any further invasive tests or treatments as he is in end-of-life care.
The tweet reads, “Pele no longer responds to chemotherapy and is in palliative care.”
Pele was hospitalized in Sao Paulo earlier this week for a reassessment of his colon tumor’s chemotherapy treatment, which he had been undergoing since September 2021. He was then diagnosed with a respiratory infection while he was in the hospital.
He has, however, been moved to palliative, end-of-life care, to help him deal with his pain and shortness of breath, and to make him more comfortable.
There has since been an outpouring of support and calls for prayers for the quick recovery of the soccer legend all over the world.
Before Brazil’s match against Cameroon at the World Cup on Friday, fans held up a banner with a ‘Get well soon’ message to the former striker.
France football star, Kylian Mbappe also showed support to the football icon via his official social media handle. He wrote, “Pray for the king @Pele”
There was also a ‘Get Well Soon ‘ light displayed for the football star by FIFA at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
Reacting to the messages and love, Pele took to his Instagram account to thank his fans and supporters.
“Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit. It’s always nice to receive positive messages like this. Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes!” he wrote.
Meanwhile, British television personality, Piers Morgan also paid tribute to the football legend and his career via his his twitter handle.
He wrote, “Awful news that the great Pelé has been moved to end-of-life palliative care after he stopped responding to chemotherapy. The only footballer in history to win 3 World Cups, and an icon of the game at the level of Muhammad Ali in boxing. So sad.”
Pele, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento , won the World Cup three times during his playing career. This placed him as the only football player to ever achieve this feats.
He won the first in 1958 when he was just 17-years-old and then again in 1962 and 1970. He scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil and is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time.
