As the football world mourns three-time FIFA World Cup winner, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele), spare a thought for the football icon’s mother, who is alive in Brazil.
Reports from Brazil indicate that Pele’s mother, Celeste, is aged 100 and actually looks strong.
Unfortunately, Celeste is having to endure the agony of mourning her son, who died on Thursday while aged 82.
Celeste is said to have had a big influence on the career of Pele, who is considered the greatest footballer of all time.
Pele recently took to his Instagram to celebrate Celeste’s 100th birthday.
The football legend, who succumbed to cancer, fondly said his mother inculcated in him the values of love, peace and kindness.
Pele recalled that such valued helped him in his distinguished career for Santos FC and Brazil.
CELESTE WAS NAMED BRAZIL MOTHER OF THE YEAR
Celeste was actually named Brazilian Mother of the Year recently.
The great footballer captured the imagination of the football world when he stopped training briefly with Brazil and rushed to hug his mother on the terraces.
Celeste had arrived at Brazil’s training grounds unnoticed prior to the 1966 FIFA World Cup finals.
She was born in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais in Brazil, but moved to Bauru, where Pele’s football career thrived after he signed for FC Santos when aged 15.
Celeste was the wife of Pele’s father, Joao Ramos do Nascimento, who was simply known as Dondinho.
Together, Celeste and Dondinho had three children, including Zoca and Maria Lúcia Nascimento
‘THE GREATEST GOAL I SCORED WAS WITH PELE’S MUM’
“The greatest goal I ever scored was a one-two with [his mother] Celeste—we named him Edson Arantes do Nascimento,” Dondinho was quoted some years back.
Dondinho, who served as a trainer and mentor to a young Pele, died in 1996 when aged 79.
Dondinho was also a top striker in his heydays. The Brazilian leaves a trail of three World Cup titles to his name, three Guinness World Records, and the highest number of goals scored ever.
He was also the youngest-ever footballer to win the FIFA World Cup championship while aged 17.
Pele was named athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
On November 19 1969, Pele scored his 1000th career goal.
Pele is the youngest scorer, youngest World Cup hat-trick scorer and youngest finalist.
The Brazilian icon was also the youngest player to score in a Final in World Cup history.
American side New York Cosmos sensationally brought Pele out of retirement in 1975.
He retired two years later. Pele also once served as Sports Minister in Brazil.
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