A woman claiming to be football legend Pelé’s secret daughter has demanded the exhumation of his body to prove whether he is her father.
Maria do Socorro Azevedo, 60, instructed a lawyer to make the move nearly five years after first launching a paternity lawsuit.
According to reports published overnight, which cited attorney Marcos Fernando dos Santos Sousa, the Brazilian centre-forward’s DNA test revealed “high possibilities” of a blood connection despite the original tests’ negative results.
According to Mr. dos Santos Sousa, they were left with “no choice” but to ask for Pele’s remains to be exhumed in order to “resolve the situation.”
Pelé, who died aged 82 on December 29 2022 in a Sao Paulo hospital after having a tumour removed from his colon, recognised the possibility he could have another child in his will. He reportedly agreed to a DNA test but died before it could take place.
Pelé married three times and officially has seven children, including a stepdaughter. Last year, it was reported the footballing icon had left £13mn to a secret daughter in his will after spending his life denying he was her father.
Maria do Socorro Azevedo spoke publicly about her claims she is Pele’s daughter on a Brazilian TV programme on Sunday and insisted she was not interested in his money.
She said her late mother had never told the former Brazil and Santos forward she was pregnant with their child after a fling in Sao Luis in the Brazilian state of Maranhao.
Maria, a native of the northeast Brazilian state of Piaui, stated that she had initially made the decision to get a DNA test in 2019 while working as a cleaner in Sao Paulo.
Thirty per cent of Pele’s wealth went to his third wife, Marica Aoki, while the remaining sixty per cent was divided amongst his children and two grandchildren.
His estimated net worth at the time of his passing was £78 million.
Following the reading of their father’s will, Edinho Nascimento and Flavia Christina, two of his children, consented to undergo DNA testing.
Maria do Socorro Azevedo is entitled to her portion of the fortune bequeathed to her siblings if she is identified as his eighth child.
Augusto Miglioli, a lawyer representing Pele’s family, stated that his clients will challenge any demand for the exhumation because Maria was not the football player’s daughter, according to previous DNA testing.
Maria do Socorro Azevedo stated that she is not interested in the money, but if it is shown that she is his daughter, she will accept it anyway.
I can’t understand why the test wasn’t carried out before Pelé died. After all, it’s just a mouth swab. If his other children genuinely feel that she’s not his daughter, then they have nothing to fear, although she does resemble him so there might be some truth to it.
We will soon be undergoing DNA testing both at birth and after we pass away. Life would become much easier as a result. Naturally, some individuals who are unfamiliar with DNA testing may become agitated, but with a few hours of investigation, they might likely discover that this is an excellent tool.
If it turns out Pelé isn’t her father, then perhaps she should be made to pay the family money. See if she’s keen to dig him up then.
Pelé was a legend, and it appears that he can still score goals from beyond the grave.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 