Pele is depressed and has become a recluse, says his son

Pelé is depressed over his poor health and reluctant to leave the house because he cannot walk unaided, according to the Brazil legend’s son, Edinho.

Pelé, who will be 80 in October, has had hip trouble for years and now needs a frame to walk. Many of his recent public appearances have been in a wheelchair, reports The Guardian. 

“He’s pretty fragile. He had a hip replacement and didn’t have an adequate or ideal rehabilitation,” Edinho told TV Globo. “So he has this problem with mobility and that has set off a kind of depression. Imagine, he’s the king, he was always such an imposing figure, and today he can’t walk properly.

“He’s embarrassed, he doesn’t want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house. He is reclusive.” Edinho added that he had argued with his father because he had not done the physiotherapy called for after a hip operation.

This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of Pelé’s third World Cup title, won in Mexico in 1970 with what many people believe is the greatest team of all time.