Brazilian star Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pelé’, 81, shared his new appearance on Thursday to reassure his millions of followers, amid constant rumors about his delicate state of health.
“They’re saying out there that I’m not okay. Don’t you think I’m handsome?”the legendary former striker, who is undergoing treatment for a colon tumor from which he underwent surgery last September, has asked on his social networks.
The triple world champion accompanied his message with a photograph in which he appears smiling, with a new hairstyle and with his fists clenched as if he were preparing for a boxing match. “I know there are people looking for news about me. So, I send them here. Today I took the day to take care of my image. Since the start of the pandemic, my wife has been my favorite hairdresser,” she explained.
Pelé, considered by many to be the best footballer in history, continues to be treated for the colon tumor that was detected in September 2021 and for which he had already been operated on once in a private hospital in São Paulo. After that procedure, he began chemotherapy treatment that has forced him to go to the hospital several times.
Last January, He went again to the same São Paulo clinic for another check-up, after which the team of doctors assured that his health condition continued to be stable. However, endless rumors were generated after ESPN BRAZIL stated that ‘O Rei’ had had two tumors detected in his liver and intestine, and another one emerging in his lung.
That information was categorically denied by Kely Nascimento, one of the daughters of the former Santos and Cosmos player, who then stated that his father was “fine” and that his diagnosis had not changed. “He goes to the hospital every month to get a general evaluation, so you can expect that kind of thing (hospitalizations) to happen from time to time,” he explained on his social networks.
In addition to the tumor Pele’s health has deteriorated in recent years due to spinal, hip and knee problems that have reduced his mobility and have forced him to go through the operating room, in addition to suffering some kidney crises.
