The 79-year-old has rarely been in public recently having struggled with his rehabilitation from a hip operation
Brazil legend Pele is depressed and is too embarrassed to leave his house due to poor health, according to his son Edinho.
The former striker will turn 80 in October, and requires a frame to help him walk after suffering from years of hip trouble.
Many of his recent public appearances have been in a wheelchair, with his son saying that his father is reluctant to leave the house due to his shame about being unwell.
“He’s pretty fragile,” Edinho told Globoesporte . “He had a hip replacement and didn’t have an adequate or ideal rehabilitation.
“So he has this problem with mobility and that has set off a kind of depression. Imagine, he’s the king, he was always such an imposing figure, and today he can no longer walk properly. Only with help. He is very shy, very embarrassed about it.
“It improved a little compared to that recent time when he was in a wheelchair, but he still has a lot of difficulty walking.
“He’s embarrassed, he doesn’t want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house. He is reclusive.”
The 79-year-old’s ill-health has previously been reported by Brazilian media.
It was claimed that he had his right kidney removed in 1977, before also stating more recently that he had underwent surgery to remove kidney stones.
Pele appeared in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup draw in Moscow, with it also reported that he had collapsed from exhaustion a month later.
The former Santos and New York Cosmos striker played an influential role in Brazil’s domination at international level from 1958-1970, where the country lifted the World Cup on three occasions.
This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of Pele’s third and final World Cup title, where he was a key part of what many believe to be the greatest team of all time when Brazil became world champions in Mexico in 1970.
Pele spent 18 years at Santos, making 1,281 appearances and scoring 1,091 goals – though not all of those came in official matches.
He remains Brazil’s leading goalscorer with 77 and is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Source:Goal.com
This chi child cold just say he is unwell instead of traumatizing some of us his fans.
Very understandable. Let us respect his privacy.
Today I woke up not feeling well. Please pray for me. Thanks .
Kz
I am praying for you KZ, but remember to take ama ARVs. Dont forget that Mama Esther Lungu wants to eradicate HIV by 2030.
Will pray for you KZ
KZ keep ARVs close to you always.his son doesn’t think that is privacy
Why PF thinking about Pele? This story will not anyway tarnish HH’s image.
PF should focus on Guy Scott, not Pele.
Get well KZ you are such a positive person who doesnt care which side of bread is buttered. Ba Pele please you are a man of resilience so don’t be depressed life goes on there is a saying i qoute” The struggle you’re in today is developing the strenght you need tomorrow” I rest my
Old age is worse than death
Unmatched record indeed! Pele you are a strong man. It is true old age is something else
Old age is something else which only the old would understand indeed. We can therefore do better by trying hard to discover that within us which is ageless and which keep pushing strong hearts like king Pele to crave for more. Long live the king
Really at his age, its expected to have all sorts of ailments. Nothing to be ashamed of great Pele. Get out there and enjoy fresh air in a wheel chair. Learn from Muhamad Ali who was out and about despite his illness. Iam really disappointed in you Pele.
May he find the Lord if he has not. God please help the man. He was our man when we were young.
Old age worse? Are you sure? I’d like to believe the happiest man in the world today should also be the oldest. How come only Young people commit suicide while old ones die their sleep?
I rebuke all the evil from the devils above. Evil begets evil so you will only shorten your own life. I am actually feeling better now. In the name of jesus
Kaizar Zulu your comments always get me thinking, when Yesu Kristu was being crucified on which side could you have been, if you were there? Please answer me as genuinely as you have always been. You have always spoken your mind. Plerase answer me Kaizar. I am waiting.