The mother of Brazilian soccer legend Pele passed away at the age of 101.
Celeste Arantes, the mother of Brazilian soccer legend Pele, has died at the age of 101, outliving her famous son by 18 months, the family confirmed Friday.
On October 23, 1940, Arantes was 17 years old when she gave birth to her first child, a boy who grew up to be considered the greatest soccer player of all time.
"Rest in peace, grandmother," Pele's eldest son Edinho wrote on Instagram, a message illustrated with a photo of him hugging his grandmother.
No details were given about the cause of death. According to local media, Arantes was hospitalized for eight days and died on Friday.
At the time of his son's death, family members said Arantes had cognitive difficulties and did not know his world-famous son was dead.
Arantes, who married Pele's father, Joao Ramos do Nascimento, at age 16, also had another son, Jair, who died in 2020 of cancer, the same disease that claimed Pele's life.
