Rio de Janeiro, 29 December 2022 (dpa/MIA) – Brazil football great Pelé has died at the age of 82, his family and the São Paulo hospital where he was being cared for announced on Thursday.

Pelé, the only man to win three World Cups, died after battling colon cancer for over a year and being in hospital since November.

“Everything we are, we owe to you,” Pelé’s daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram. “We love you immensely, rest in peace.”

The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein confirmed the legendary footballer’s death on Thursday at 3.27 pm due to multiple organ failure as a result of colon cancer.

The Brazilian football federation CBF took to Twitter to post a photo of “King Pelé” with the word “eternal” written above a black and white portrait.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940 in the town of Três Corações (Three Hearts) in the state of Minas Gerais, Pelé became known in Brazil as the “King of Football.” He won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 und 1970.

World football’s governing body FIFA named him as player of the century along with Argentina’s Diego Maradona, who died in 2020 aged 60.

At the beginning of December, the hospital has said that Pelé had full control over his vital functions and was in a stable clinical condition.

However, the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper reported that Pelé was no longer responding to chemotherapy. According to the report, cancer treatment had been suspended and Pelé was only receiving palliative care.

On Wednesday before Christmas Eve, the hospital announced that Pelé’s cancer had progressed and that he needed more intensive care due to kidney and heart problems.

Two days later, his daughter posted a photo on Instagram of her father in his hospital bed, both holding each other. “One more night together” was written alongside the photo.

Pelé has also had recurring hip problems in the past, as well as problems with his spine and knee. After a urinary tract infection, he had a kidney stone removed.

During a routine check-up, doctors finally discovered a tumour on his colon, which was removed in late summer.

With 77 goals in 92 international matches, Pelé is still the Seleção Brasileira’s record goal scorer. Pelé is survived by seven children and his wife Márcia Cibele Aoki.