Celeste Arantes, the mother of Brazilian football icon Pelé, passed away at the age of 101, the family announced on Friday. Her death comes 18 months after the passing of her famous son.
Arantes was just 17 when she gave birth to her first child on October 23, 1940, who would grow up to become one of the greatest footballers of all time.
“Rest in peace, grandma,” wrote Pelé’s eldest son, Edinho, on Instagram, accompanied by a photo of him hugging his grandmother.
Although no cause of death was provided, local media reported that Arantes had been hospitalized for eight days before her passing on Friday.
At the time of Pelé’s death, family members mentioned that Arantes had cognitive difficulties and was unaware of her son’s death. She had married Pelé’s father, Joao Ramos do Nascimento, at the age of 16 and had another son, Jair, who died of cancer in 2020, the same illness that claimed Pelé’s life.
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A devoted stay-at-home mother, Arantes dedicated her life to caring for her children. On her 100th birthday, Pelé shared a heartfelt message on Instagram: “From a young age, she taught me the value of love and peace,” along with three photos of them together at different stages of life.
Nine days later, Pelé was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo, where he succumbed to cancer. His funeral procession made an emotional stop at his mother’s house.
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, remains the only player in history to have won three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970).
