Pelé, Brazilian legend soccer player dies at 82

The first global symbol of soccer, Pelé, a Brazilian hero who won three World Cups, has passed away at age 82.

"Everything that we are, is thanks to you," his daughter Kely Nascimento noted in a post on Instagram, under a picture of family members holding Pele’s hands. "We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."

Late in November, Pelé was hospitalised in Sao Paulo with complications from colon cancer and a respiratory infection. His health had gotten worse as his malignancy got worse, the hospital reported last week.

According to a statement from Albert Einstein Hospital, he passed away on Thursday as a result of multiple organ failures brought on by the advancement of colon cancer.

Soccer has been associated with Pelé for more than 60 years. The only player in history to participate in all four World Cups and win three of them, he left a lasting impact that went far beyond his collection of awards and exceptional goal-scoring stats.

"I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint," Pelé famously said.