The daughter of football legend Pele shared an emotional post saying her family are enduring “sadness and despair” with her dad still hospitalised. Pele is currently in the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in Sao Paulo after being admitted at the end of November 2022.

The 82-year-old’s cancer has advanced and doctors recently said he is under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.”

His daughter Kely Nascimento spoke out online as she posted a picture with her sister Flavia and Pele’s grandchildren, Octavio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes.

Kely said, “These moments are hard to explain. Sometimes there is a lot of sadness and despair, other times we laugh and talk of fun memories. And what we learn most from all this is that we have to look for each other, and hold tight. Only when it’s all worth it. With it all together.”

Pele has been undergoing treatment for some time for colon cancer and had been receiving chemotherapy sessions. The Brazilian icon then developed a lung infection as he became weaker due to the ongoing treatment he is receiving.

He had a colon tumour removed in September 2021 but no confirmation has been received as to whether the cancer had spread to other organs. Pele spent Christmas in hospital but received the support of his loving family and the footballing community around the globe.

On Boxing Day, daughter Kely shared her praise for the hospital workers who are doing all they can for their father.

She said, “To see our dad being treated by these care professionals, super competent and extremely caring. Not a moment goes by that we forget this privilege. Even in sadness we can only be thankful.”

Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, is considered by many one of the greatest to ever grace the beautiful game. The famous forward is believed to have scored close to 2,000 goals throughout his playing career. And he helped influence generations of talent, including Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar.

• The Sun report