Brazil Football Legend Pele’s Family Gather at Hospital Bedside

In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
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Brazil Football Legend Pele’s Family Gather at Hospital Bedside

In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on March 09, 2014, Brazilian football legend Pele poses with the FIFA World Cup trophy during a press conference, outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. (AFP)

Brazilian football legend Pele's family members gathered at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where the 82-year-old, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, has been since late November.

Doctors said this week that Pele's cancer had advanced and that he requires care related to renal and cardiac dysfunction. His family said he would remain in a Sao Paulo hospital over Christmas.

Pele has received regular medical treatment since a tumor was removed from his colon in September last year.

"Almost all of them. Merry Christmas. Gratitude, love, togetherness, family. The essence of Christmas. We thank you all for all the love and light you send," his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram with a picture of their family in the hospital.

Pele's son Edinho, who played in goal for Santos in the 1990s, posted a picture of himself holding his father's hand to Instagram on Saturday, with the caption "Father... my strength is yours."



Ronaldo Takes Family to Lapland for Christmas Vacation

Cristiano Ronaldo in action. (AFP)
Cristiano Ronaldo in action. (AFP)
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Ronaldo Takes Family to Lapland for Christmas Vacation

Cristiano Ronaldo in action. (AFP)
Cristiano Ronaldo in action. (AFP)

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo said it was “just a little cold” as he posed bare-chested in the snow before taking an icy dip in a pool during a Christmas vacation in Finland’s Lapland region.

The 39-year-old Portuguese international traveled with partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children, who met Santa Claus in a 10-minute video posted online by Ronaldo on Tuesday.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United great appeared to decline to ski with his family. He wished his followers — including 645 million on Instagram — a “Merry Christmas” in Spanish.

The Al-Nassr striker is on a winter break from the Saudi Pro League until Jan. 9.