Fans are fascinated by Pele’s private life following the football legend’s death on December 29, 2022, including his highly publicized romance with TV host Xuxa Meneghel.
The football community is mourning the loss of an icon after Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo confirmed Pele’s passing on Thursday due to multiple organ failure as a result of colon cancer. He was 82 years old.
The football star – born Edson Arantes do Nascimento – is widely thought to be the greatest player ever. He came to public consciousness via his explosive World Cup debut in 1958, which saw the then-17-year-old propel Brazil to victory including two goals against Sweden in the final. He is the only player to have won three World Cups.
Neymar, who shares the record with Pele of most goals scored in a Brazil shirt, led the tributes. He wrote on Instagram: “Before Pele, 10 was just a number. I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.”
Pele’s death has prompted interest in his personal life, including his romance with Xuxa, which came under the microscope at the time.
Pele and Xuxa had a 23-year age difference
Pele and Xuxa dated for about five years, starting in 1981. According to several reports, Xuxa recalls she met her first love on the set of a photo shoot for Manchete Magazine. The TV host was hired alongside Pele and model Luiza Brunet. Pele was allegedly interested in Brunet but turned his attention to Xuxa after learning Luiza was married.
Xuxa – real name Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel – was born on March 27, 1953 so she was 17 years old when she started a romance with 40-year-old Pele.
The public scrutinized their relationship, with many accusing the up-and-coming model of using Pele’s fame to kick-start her career. Xuxa was hopeful the hate would disappear, but it never seemed to.
There has been one instance, however, in which Pele’s status boosted her career, reports Remezcla. Xuxa modeled for Playboy at age 19 before her major breakthrough as a children’s TV host. The football star allegedly retrieved the images in exchange for an exclusive interview with the magazine to save Xuxa’s blushes and, presumably, her budding TV career.
People reports the couple split in 1986.
Xuxa speaks out after former lover’s death
Xuxa, 59, reposted the heartbreaking final photo Kely Nascimento posted with her soccer legend father, sending condolences to Pele’s wife, mother and children.
Xuxa wrote: “Marcia, Kely, Edinho, Jennifer, Joshua, Celeste and family (children at heart), grandchildren, nephews, Lucia… and everyone who was by Dico’s side, my affectionate hugs and may the pain of loss turn into good souvenirs to be less cumbersome.”
Pele married his third wife, Japanese-Brazilian entrepreneur Marcia Aoki, in 2016. She was 32 years his junior. They met in the 1980s but only united in 2008. They were together until his passing.
The Brazil legend was the father of seven kids. He shared daughters Kely and Jennifer, and son Edinho Nascimento with his first wife, Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi. His twins, Celeste and Joshua, arrived in 1996 to Assíria Lemos Seixas. His remaining two children were from relationships with Anizia Machado and journalist Lenita Kurtz.
In other news, Japanese man Toco becomes human dog after buying £12k Collie costume
