Pelé had surgery to remove a tumor in his colon last year.
On November 29 of this year, he was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo because his medication needed to be adjusted.
After his health deteriorated over the past month, Pelé's family announced on Thursday that the football legend had passed away.
The Brazilian government announced after the news of Pelé's death that it had declared a three-day national mourning.
The announcement came in a statement from outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.
Honored in the home arena
Pelé's hometown of Santos, south of São Paulo, has declared a seven-day mourning period following the legend's passing.
Santos FC, the club he represented in Brazil for 18 years, will honor Pelé with a memorial ceremony on Monday and Tuesday.
The casket will be placed in the center circle of the Vila Belmiro home stadium and the public will be given the opportunity to say a final farewell to the football icon.
The casket will then be carried through the streets of Santos, passing by the home of Pelé's 100-year-old mother.
According to media in Brazil, the mother, Celeste, is very ill and cannot leave her home.
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See pictures from Pelé's life and career in the clip • The picture shows him in connection with an interview in 2019 and after the World Cup gold in 1970 in Mexico Photo: TT Nyhetsbyrån