Pele’s 100-year-old mother ‘doesn’t know’ Brazil icon has died

Pele’s mother is not aware that her son has passed away, according to his sister. The footballing hero lost his fight to colon cancer on Thursday, aged 82.

Pele’s mother, Celeste, celebrated her 100th birthday recently, though is in ‘her own world’ according to her daughter, Maria Lucia do Nascimento. Maria looks after her elderly parent, though does not believe that she understands that her son has passed away.

She said: “We talk but she doesn’t know the situation. She’s in her own world.”

Maria then revealed that her mother does still recognise Pele’s childhood nickname of Dico, explaining to the Brazilian media: “She opens her eyes when I mention his name and say, ‘We’re going to pray for him’ but she’s not really conscious of what I’m saying.”

Brazil was placed in an extended period of mourning, lasting three days, after news broke that Pele had passed away at Sao Paolo’s Albert Einstein Hospital due to reported multiple organ failure, linked with his long-standing battle against cancer. Fans gathered around the country to pay their respects, with key global figures, both from the sporting world and outside of it, also writing heartfelt tributes to the three-time World Cup winner and thanking him for his influence on football.

Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to gather at the Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos on Monday, where his coffin will be placed in the centre circle for 24 hours for people to pay their respects from 10am. Then on Tuesday, the coffin will then be transported around the local area on a planned parade to allow supporters the chance to say goodbye. During the journey, the hearse will pass through the suburb in which Celeste resides, Canal 6, before travelling to the world’s largest cemetery, situated in Santos, where the global icon will be laid to rest.

The six-time Brasileiro Serie A winner was close to his mother Celeste and shared a touching post on his Instagram thanking her for always being ‘by his side’ on her birthday, 20th November. The post read: “Today, we celebrate 100 years of Dona Celeste’s life.

“From a young age, she taught me the value of love and peace. I have well over a hundred reasons to be thankful for being her son. I share these photos with you, with great emotion to celebrate this day. Thank you for every day by your side, Mom.”