Brazil stars carry Pele poster on to pitch and pose for touching tribute as legend watches World Cup match from hospital
BRAZIL players paid a touching tribute to World Cup hero Pele after he was rushed to hospital earlier this week.
Pele, 82, was hospitalised earlier this week after he stopped responding to chemotherapy as he battles bowel cancer.
And Brazil players paid homage to the World Cup great by bringing a special poster onto the pitch after thrashing South Korea 4-1.
Fans also paid their owner tribute before kick off as they brought a flag which shows an older Pele hugging a traditional black and white football paired with an image of him while playing for Santos.
Pele is the only man to have won three World Cups – doing so in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
And despite being in hospital the legendary striker revealed he was “rooting” for the Samba Boys as they faced South Korea for a place in the quarter-finals.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father.
“I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.
“I will watch the game from the hospital and I will be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”
Pele has remained in hospital throughout the week after falling ill with a Covid-aggravated infection.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
Reports had emerged stating Pele had been moved to palliative end-of-life care.
However, his family came out to deny these rumours and provided a positive health update.
Daughter Kely Nascimento said: “He is sick, he is old.
“But at the moment, he is there because of the lung infection. And once he feels better, he will go home again.
“He is not saying goodbye in a hospital at the moment.”
Pele’s other daughter, Flavia, added: “It is very unfair for people to say he is in the end of his life, in palliative care. Guys, that’s not true. Believe us.
“He is not in intensive care, he is in a regular bedroom. He is not in risk, he is in treatment.”