Pele has given his fans reassurances over his health, saying he is "doing fine". His son had given an interview suggesting otherwise. The Brazilian is considered by many as the greatest to ever play the beautiful game.
Pele is hoisted aloft after leading Brazil to World Cup glory in Mexico after defeating Italy 4-1 in the finalImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Advertisement
Contrary to widespread reports based on quotes from his son Edinho, three time World Cup winner Pele says his he remains healthy.
"I am doing fine. I will celebrate my 80th birthday this year. I have good days and others that are not so good. That is normal for people of my age," Pele said in a statement published by Brazilian media on Thursday.
That statement came after Edinho said his father has "a kind of depression" and is "embarrassed" by his deteriorating health, the soccer legend's son said on Monday.
The 49-year-old son of the former footballer told TV Globo: "He's pretty fragile. He had a hip replacement and didn't have an adequate or ideal rehabilitation." He admitted he had argued with his father because he had not done the physiotherapy required after a hip operation.
"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't walk properly. He's embarrassed, he doesn't want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house," his son added. "He is very sheepish, reclusive."
The greatest
Pele, who will turn 80 later this year, spent most of his club career with Brazilian team Santos before moving to New York Cosmos, where he finished his playing days in 1977.
But it was his performances on the world stage that gave him the most recognition. The only footballer in history to win three World Cups, Pele won his first winners' medal in 1958 at the age of 17. His second came four years later, despite incurring an injury in the second game that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. Pele lifted the trophy for the third and final time in 1970 in Mexico as part of what many consider to be the greatest national team to ever play the game.
In 2014, he was placed in intensive care for dialysis after contracting a severe urinary infection.
In April of last year he traveled to Paris for a promotional appearance with France and Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, but had to be hospitalized shortly after for kidney problems.
The Brazilian, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has only one kidney, after a broken rib during a match forced doctors to remove the other.
Football prodigies; some become stars, some fade away
It would seem the sky is the limit for Youssoufa Moukoko, who scored six goals for Dortmund on his debut in the U19 Bundesliga. Here we look back at previous young prodigies whose careers took off – or disappointed.
Image: pictures-alliance/dpa/empics
Youssoufa Moukoko
Youssoufa Moukoko had a dream debut in the under-19 Bundesliga, scoring six goals in Borussia Dortmund's 9-2 drubbing of Wuppertaler SV. He first came to national attention earlier this year when it was reported that Nike had paid €10 million ($11.2 million) to get his name on a sponsorship deal. He will be eligible to play in the Bundesliga on November 20, 2020, when he turns 16.
Pele began playing for Santos at the age of 15 and Brazil a year later. He represented his country at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, scoring a hat-trick against France in the semifinal, becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup in the process. He went on to make 92 appearances for Brazil, scoring 77 goals. He spent the last two seasons of his career with the New York Cosmos.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona made his professional debut for Argentinos Juniors at the age of 15 and went on to have a long and storied career with Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla among others. He also led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title and is remembered for scoring against England with a blatant handball – and also scoring on a solo run that is considered one of the greatest goals in history.
Image: pictures-alliance/dpa/empics
Cristiano Ronaldo
Now 34, the Juventus forward made his debut with Sporting Lisbon at just 17 – scoring two goals. At 18 he joined Manchester United, where he spent several seasons before climbing to even greater heights with Real Madrid – scoring 311 goals in just 292 appearances for Los Blancos. He's made 158 appearances for Portugal, and led them to the Euro 2016 title in France.
Image: Reuters/M. Pinca
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe debuted for Ligue 1 club Monaco in 2015 at the age of 16 and in 2017 he became the world's second-most expensive transfer, moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €180 million. Mbappe has since won several team and individual awards. On July 15, 2018 he became only the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final as France beat Croatia 4-2 to lift the trophy.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Norman Whiteside
Beyond Northern Ireland and Manchester, Norman Whiteside is perhaps best remembered for breaking Pele's record for being the youngest to play in a World Cup – at 17 years and 41 days – in Spain in 1982. A year later, Whiteside became the youngest to score in an FA Cup final – as United beat Brighton 4-0 in a replay. However, a series of injuries forced him to retire as a player at just 26.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/empics
Freddy Adu
Prodigies don't always live up to their billing. Freddy Adu was touted as the next Pele when he made his MLS debut at the age of 14 in 2004. Adu was traded from DC United to Salt Lake in 2006 before quickly moving to Benfica. But what followed was a journeyman career through more than a dozen clubs. Most recently he was dropped from the roster of the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship.
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma/C. Myers
Alen Halilovic
Alen Halilovic made his pro debut for Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16 and made his first appearance for Croatia a few months later, becoming that country's youngest player. Two years later he moved to Catalan powerhouse Barcelona and the sky seemed to be the limit. However, he would play just one match for Barca before being loaned out. He is currently on loan at Standard Liege from AC MIlan.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose
Alexandre Pato
Alexandre Pato had an auspicious start to his career, deputing for Brazilian club Internacional at 16 – helping the club to win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. A year later he was at AC Milan, where the forward put up good numbers at first. Injuries contributed to a downward slide and he started bouncing around – winding up with Chinese side Tianjin Tianhai. He's now back in Brazil with Sao Paolo.
John Bostock has the distinction of being the youngest player to debut for both Crystal Palace (15 in 2007) and Tottenham Hotspur (16 in 2008). However, his career quickly stalled and he embarked on a tour that took him all the way to MLS club Toronto FC, where he played just seven matches in 2013. The midfielder is now at Championship side Nottingham Forest, where he is on loan from Toulouse.
The Canadian, who was born to Liberian parents in a refugee camp in Ghana, signed his first professional contract with the Whitecaps FC2 of the USL at the age of 15 – later moving up to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS. In the 2018 summer transfer window, Bayern Munich swooped in to bring the promising youngster to the Bundesliga. Still just 18, Davies has 14 caps and three goals for Canada.
