Maria Lucia do Nascimento, sister of the late Brazilian football legend Pele, revealed that their mother, Dona Celeste - who extinguished her 100th candle last month - is not yet aware of the news of her son's death at the age of 82 after a long struggle with illness.

Pele and his two daughters, days before his death (communication sites)

"completely unconscious"

In an interview with the American network "ESPN" (ESPN), the sister of the late Pele explained that his mother, who has completed the century of her life, also suffers from the deterioration of her health and mental condition, and although she did not respond to attempts to tell her the news, her family is sure that she is "aware of it".

Maria explained, "My mother does not know, we tried to tell her about it, but she does not show any response, as she now lives in her own world."

She added, "Sometimes I repeat the name "Deco" in front of her - which is Pele's nickname - and tell her to pray for him, right, mom?

But she does not respond.. She opens her eyes from time to time, but she is completely unconscious.

The world got to know Pele's mother - whom the Brazilians knew well - closely a few weeks before his death, when he published a post on Instagram on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

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A post shared by Pele (@pele)

At the time, Pele published 3 photos of him with his mother, commenting, "Today we celebrate Donna Celeste's 100th birthday. Since my early years, she taught me the values ​​of love and peace. I have hundreds of reasons that make me grateful to be her son."

He added, "I share with you these pictures full of feelings on the occasion of celebrating this day, thank you for all those days that I spent with my mother."

One last farewell

In the interview with the American network, Maria confirmed that his mother was at his side in the hospital on the 21st of last month in order to accompany him on his last days alive.

And she revealed, "We were all here beside him, the atmosphere was very calm, he knew that he would leave and was also reassured, he was religiously committed, and he told me once: I am in God's hands, he was right, he felt the time of his departure."

Pele's funeral will pass next Tuesday in front of the residence of his mother, Dona Celeste, in Santos.

His sister, Donna, 78, commented on the passing of the funeral, saying, "It will be very difficult. We know that we are not immortal, but his departure broke our hearts, but we are all in God's hands, and He knows the time of our departure."

It is scheduled that the last look at Pele’s body will be held at the Santos club stadium tomorrow, Monday, starting at ten o’clock in the morning, Brazil time, and he will be buried next Tuesday.

It is noteworthy that Pele was crowned with the Brazilian national team the World Cup 3 times in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and many consider him "the best player ever."