The image of a young Pelé celebrating goals and lifting trophies with Brazil’s national team appeared brightly on the shirts, flags and banners of Brazilian fans gathering before the Seleçao’s World Cup match against South Korea on Monday.
The 82-year-old Pelé remained in a hospital
in Sao Paulo recovering from a respiratory infection that was aggravated by
COVID-19, and said he would watch the match on television.
“I’ll be watching the game from hospital
and I’ll be rooting for each one of you,” he wrote on Twitter. “Good luck!”
In the 10th minute, Brazilian fans opened a
large banner with his image behind one of the goals at Stadium 974, a reference
to the No. 10 jersey that he used to wear. In the image, Pelé was shown with
the white No. 10 shirt that he wore while playing for Brazilian club Santos.
The news coming from Brazil early Monday
was good. Two daughters and one grandson of the soccer great said he was not
under an imminent risk of death.
It was reason for celebration for the many
Brazilians who have been cheering for the Selecao and showing their support to
Pelé in Qatar.
“We are all happy to hear that he is
getting better,” 35-year-old Brazil fan Raphael Bissonho said. “He’s the King
of Football, our biggest symbol in soccer. He represents Brazil as best as
anyone. Let’s hope that soon he is out of the hospital and showing us a photo
of him watching the national team on the television.”
Pelé had a colon tumor removed last year,
but neither his family nor the hospital have said whether it had spread.
A few thousand people were at the Brazilian
fans’ gathering point in Doha on Monday to cheer for the team in the match
against South Korea in the round of 16. Many headed to Stadium 974 to watch the
game.
“Everyone is thinking and talking about
him,” said 44-year-old Alexandre Carola, a Santos fan who traveled from Sao
Paulo to watch Brazil play. “We are here, praying and hoping that he can
recover as soon as possible. And I’m sure that when he watches the match on TV
and sees this movement to wish him well, to send him this energy, I’m sure that
it will give him more strength to get better and soon return home to his family
and friends.”
There also was a show of support before the
game against Cameroon last week, after news came out that Pelé had been
hospitalized.
There were tributes to Pelé put together by
tournament organizers in Qatar, as well, including messages of support
displayed on building facades. During a drone show at Doha bay, a large
Brazilian flag with the No. 10 on it was displayed, along with the message “Get
well soon, Pelé.”
Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil, in
1958, 1962 and 1970. The Selecao also won the title in 1994 and 2002.
Pelé holds the record for goals in
officials matches with Brazil with 77, one more than Neymar, who scored in the
first half against South Korea after returning from a right ankle injury.