The forward, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, won football’s greatest prize in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Pelé, who has been in hospital in São Paulo since November 29 for a respiratory infection and what was described as “re-evaluation of the chemotherapy treatment over colon cancer identified in September 2021”, had a tumour removed from his colon last year.
Pelé scored 77 goals across 92 appearances for Brazil, making him the country’s joint top scorer in men’s international football.
In 1999 he was named the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete of the Century, and in 2016 he was presented the Olympic Order by IOC President Thomas Bach in his home town of Santos.
Bach, in a message posted on the IOC’s social media accounts said in tribute: “With Pelé’s passing, the world has lost a great sporting icon.
“As I could experience myself, he was a true believer in the Olympic values and a proud carrier of the Olympic Flame. It was a privilege to present the Olympic Order to him.”
