Pelé’s message to Neymar: ″His legacy is far from over″

Former footballer Pelé, hospitalized since last week, asked Neymar to remain in the Brazilian national team, congratulating him on having equaled his record of 77 goals for the “canarinha”.

“Your legacy is far from over. Keep inspiring us. I will continue punching the air with happiness with every goal you score, as I did in every match I saw you on the pitch,” wrote Pelé on his social media.

Neymar scored Brazil’s only goal against Croatia (1-1, 2-4 in the penalty shoot-out), keeping, in the end, the doubt about whether he would play for the national team again.

“Unfortunately the day is not the happiest for us, but you will always be the source of inspiration that many aspire to become🇧🇷 I’ve learned that the more time passes, the more our legacy grows. My record was set almost 50 years ago, and nobody had managed to get close to it until now. You made it, boy. This enhances the greatness of your achievement, Neymar”, said Pelé.

Regarding Neymar’s 77 goals for the Brazilian national team, Pelé considered that “it’s much more than a number”.

“However, you know, as I do, that no number is greater than the joy of representing our country🇧🇷 I’m 82 years old, and after all this time, I hope I’ve inspired you in some way to get this far. More than that, I hope that your achievement spreads to the millions of people who follow you to challenge what seems impossible”, he said.

Pelé has had a “progressive improvement” in his state of health, after the lung infection that has kept him hospitalized since November 29 at the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo.

According to the most recent clinical bulletin, released on Tuesday, Pelé, 82, “is presenting a progressive evolution in his state of health, especially in the respiratory infection” and “continues with stable vital signs, conscious and without major changes” .

“Edson Arantes do Nascimento was admitted to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein on the 29th for a reassessment of the chemotherapy for the colon tumor, identified in September 2021”, the hospital wrote in a note.

Pelé’s health has been deteriorating in recent years, also due to other causes, such as problems with his spine, hip and knees, which reduced his mobility and forced him to undergo surgery, in addition to having a kidney crisis, which reduced his drastically reduces his public appearances, although he remains active on social media.