Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), best known to the world as Pelé, is dead. The former football star died on December 29 at the age of 82. "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who passed away peacefully today," reads a post on the Brazilian football legend's official Instagram channel.

Pelé enchanted the world with his genius in sports. Above all, however, he spread a message of love that will become a legacy for future generations today: "Love, love and love, forever."

Pelé's daughter, Kely Nascimento (55), also spoke on the platform. She published a touching picture in which several family members apparently hold Pelé's hands. "Everything we are is because of you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace," she wrote. In the past few days, she had shared photos of family members from the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil - including a picture of her lying in her ailing father's arms.

She had previously announced that the football icon would have to spend Christmas in the hospital. There is a lot of "sadness and despair", in other moments "we laugh and talk about funny memories," Nascimento wrote in another post. The family experiences moments that are "difficult to explain".

The hospital had recently announced that Pelé's cancer had progressed and that kidney and heart dysfunction had occurred. In 2021, Pelé had a tumor removed from his colon. The former professional soccer player had to stay in the hospital for about a month. He was then treated with chemotherapy.