Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, born 23 October 1940 in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is the only footballer to win three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and is universally regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He died on 29 December 2022 at the age of 82.
His Parents
Father: João Ramos do Nascimento ("Dondinho") (1917 – 1996) — semi-professional footballer who played for Fluminense de Lavras and Sao Paulo Railway.
Mother: Maria Celeste Arantes (1922 – 2024) — homemaker; she lived past 100, dying in 2024 — outlived her famous son by 17 months.
His Brothers and Sister
Zoca (Jair Arantes do Nascimento), born 1943 — younger brother; also a professional footballer at Santos.
Maria Lucia — younger sister.
His Wives
Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi — first wife (m. 1966, div. 1982). Three children.
Assíria Lemos Seixas — second wife (m. 1994, div. 2008). One set of twins.
Marcia Aoki — third wife (m. 2016); together until his 2022 death.
His Children
Kely Cristina Nascimento, born 13 January 1967 — daughter with Rosemeri; lives in the US, writer.
Edson Cholbi do Nascimento ("Edinho"), born 27 August 1970 — son with Rosemeri; footballer (goalkeeper); served prison time on drug-related convictions.
Jennifer Cholbi do Nascimento, born 1978 — daughter with Rosemeri.
Joshua Nascimento and Celeste Nascimento — twins (b. 1996) with Assíria.
Pelé also had three other children he later acknowledged from earlier relationships (the most-publicly-discussed being Sandra Regina Machado, who fought a long paternity case before being legally recognised — she predeceased him).
The Nascimento Family Tree at a Glance
Parents: Dondinho do Nascimento (1917 – 1996); Celeste Arantes (1922 – 2024).
Siblings: Zoca (b. 1943) — Santos footballer; Maria Lucia.
Wives: Rosemeri (m. 1966, div. 1982); Assíria (m. 1994, div. 2008); Marcia Aoki (m. 2016).
Children (publicly recognised, primary): Kely Cristina (b. 1967); Edinho (b. 1970); Jennifer (b. 1978); Joshua & Celeste (twins, b. 1996); other acknowledged children from earlier relationships.
Pelé:
- Born 23 October 1940, Três Corações, Brazil
- Died 29 December 2022, São Paulo
- Santos FC (1956–1974, 1,091 official goals)
- New York Cosmos (1975–1977)
- 3× FIFA World Cup winner: 1958, 1962, 1970
- 1,283 career goals (claimed) — including unofficial matches
- Named FIFA Player of the Century (2000) with Maradona
What the Nascimento Family Story Teaches Us
A footballer father. A mother who lived to 102 and outlived her famous son. A brother who also played for the same club. Three wives across six decades. Multiple children spread across multiple relationships, with publicly acknowledged paternity cases recognised late in life.
For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Pelé story carries the same lesson. A long life produces a long, complicated tree. Pelé was 82 when he died; the names on his tree span 80 years of relationships, marriages, and children. Write down every name. Across a long enough life, every family looks complicated.
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