Update (30 December 2022): Brazilian football player Pele who had been battling cancer for a while had passed away on 29 December 2022. Reports on his death can be seen here, here and here.
In the context of former Brazilian football player Pele being hospitalised recently, a post paying tribute to Pele is being shared on social media claiming that he is no more. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Former Brazilian soccer player Pele died in first week of December 2022.
Fact: As per the latest reports, Pele is showing progressive improvement after being hospitalised recently for respiratory infection and to re-evaluate his treatment for colon cancer. Pele’s daughter Flavia Nascimento reassured the fans by saying he’s not receiving end-of-life care as claimed by some reports. Moreover, on 5 December 2022, Pele said he’ll watch the FIFA world cup match Brazil and South Korea from hospital. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
As per the latest Reuters report on 06 December 2022, Pele, 82, was showing progressive improvement after he was hospitalised last week to re-evaluate his treatment for colon cancer.
He was also being treated for a respiratory infection, remained in a regular hospital room with stable vital signs and was conscious, medical staff at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital told reporters. Moreover, on December 5, Pele said that he’ll watch FIFA world cup 2022 match between Brazil and South Korea from hospital to support his team.
In response to this, after winning the match, Brazilian players dedicated this win to ailing Pele and wished for his speedy recovery. Further, Pele’s daughter Flavia Nascimento condemned the rumours of him receiving end-of-life care.
To sum it up, Pele is still alive and is in stable condition after being hospitalised recently. Social media rumours about his death are false.
