Pele’s Daughter Bombshell: Will Football Legend’s Body Be Dug Up for Truth?

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the world-renowned footballer known as Pele, may be resting in peace, but his legacy is facing a fiery challenge from beyond the grave.

Maria do Socorro Azevedo, a 60-year-old woman claiming to be his eighth child, has ignited a storm with her demand for an exhumation to settle a paternity dispute that could shake the very foundation of Pele’s estate and tarnish his iconic image.

Pele, a three-time World Cup champion and global footballing icon, passed away in December 2022. His life, woven with dazzling footwork and electrifying goals, was a saga of rags-to-riches that captivated millions.

Yet, even in death, whispers of a hidden chapter remain. In his will, rumors say, Pele acknowledged the possibility of an unclaimed daughter, a seed of doubt that Azevedo has seized upon.

Driven by a burning conviction, Azevedo, born just months after Pele’s meteoric rise in the 1958 World Cup, claims her mother kept her true origin a secret for decades.

Fueling her fire is a reported hint in Pele’s will, a cryptic line that she interprets as tacit recognition of her existence. But the path to claiming her alleged birthright is shrouded in controversy.

A previous DNA test, conducted in 2019, cast a shadow of doubt on Azevedo’s claim. However, she asserts that unforeseen circumstances, including Pele’s declining health and the COVID-19 pandemic, hampered a definitive conclusion.

Her lawyer, emboldened by this technicality, has formally requested an exhumation, a move met with fierce resistance from Pele’s widow and seven acknowledged children.

“Unreasonable” and “unlikely,” is how Pele’s widow, Marcia Aoki, characterizes the exhumation demand. Edinho, one of Pele’s sons, echoes this sentiment, maintaining that the earlier DNA test conclusively dismissed Azevedo’s claims. The tension is palpable, fueled by a potent mix of grief, financial stakes, and the desire to protect Pele’s legacy.

Pele’s estate, estimated at a staggering £12 million, adds another layer of complexity to the saga. Should Azevedo’s claim be confirmed, the inheritance dynamics would undergo a seismic shift, potentially altering the lives of all eight children and their families.

The prospect of Pele’s final resting place being disturbed for a paternity test further adds to the emotional weight of the situation.

As the legal battle unfolds, the world watches with bated breath. Will Azevedo’s story rewrite the final chapter of Pele’s life? Or will the past remain undisturbed, leaving Pele’s legacy to stand on the firm ground of his sporting triumphs, untouched by the shadows of unproven claims? Only time, and perhaps a court-ordered exhumation, will tell.