Pele’s mum ‘unaware’ Brazil legend has died

Pele's mother is unaware that the Brazilian football legend has died, his sister revealed in Sao Paulo yesterday.

Maria Lucia do Nascimento looks after their mother Celeste, who has just turned 100 and whose home is said to be on the route funeral organisers have planned before the football star is laid to rest in the world’s tallest cemetery. Overnight it emerged Pele’s only surviving sibling has yet to tell the matriarch her famous son has lost his fight against colon cancer.

Pele died at Sao Paolo’s Albert Einstein Hospital on Thursday from multiple organ failure linked to his long battle against colon cancer.

His mum celebrated her 100th birthday last month, with her son recording the special moment on Instagram.

Pele is due to be buried in a 14-storey cemetery in the centre of Santos where he played most of his club football on Tuesday following three days of official mourning.

His body will be taken from the hospital where he died to the Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos where members of the public will be able to pay their final respects.

It will remain on the centre circle for 24 hours before he is taken through the streets of his home city to stop briefly outside his bed-bound mum’s home. (C.D)