Neymar and Richarlison lead full-time Brazilian celebrations honouring Pele as they send a message of support to national hero and three-time World Cup winner who is currently fighting Covid and colon cancer
- Brazil stars demonstrate their support for national icon Pele with special banner
- The Brazilian players unfurled the image after full-time against South Korea
- Brazil eased into the World Cup quarter-finals with 4-1 victory over South Korea
- Pele watched on from home as he recovers from a serious respiratory infection
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Brazil stars have sent a message of support to their nation's footballing hero Pele after beating South Korea in a World Cup last-16 tie on Monday as the Brazilian watched from his hospital bed.
The 82-year-old considered by many as the greatest footballer of all-time is currently being treated in hospital for a respiratory infection caused by Covid.
Pele is additionally receiving chemotherapy for bowel cancer, while Brazil strive for a record-breaking sixth tournament title.
Brazil players unfurled a banner honouring national hero player after full-time against South Korea on Monday
Pele is one of the greatest footballers of all time and won three World Cups with Brazil
Pele is currently undergoing treatment for a respiratory infection caused by coronavirus
Brazilian players were keen to demonstrate their support for the national icon after comfortably advancing to the World Cup quarter-finals with a hugely impressive win over South Korea.
Injury returnee Neymar, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, Tottenham star Richarlison, and midfielder Lucas Paqueta all got on the scoresheet in Qatar as South Korea's World Cup dreams came crashing down.
Goalscorers Richarlison and Neymar were keen to get their teammates involved as they began to unfurl a banner honouring Pele on the pitch at full-time in Stadium 974.
Brazil fans also produced a banner in the stands encouraging the icon to 'get well soon'
Brazil's attacking stars Neymar (left) and Richarlison (right) helped gather teammates on the pitch
The Brazil players were joined by team staff to pose for a picture with a huge banner emblazoned with Pele's face that simply stated his name with a picture of the South American celebrating World Cup success with the nation during his playing days.
Pele won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored 643 goals in 659 official matches for the Brazilian club Santos. He scored 77 times in 92 games for his country's national team.
Reports surfacing in the wake of Pele's transfer to hospital suggested he was receiving end-of-life palliative care with his family refuting those claims in the media.
Brazil's stars hold up the banner on the pitch at full-time in their last-16 clash with South Korea
Brazil supporters have been sending messages of support back to the recovering Pele
Daughter Flavia Nascimento updated concerned supporters on her father's condition, stating: 'It is very unfair for people to say he is in the end of his life, in palliative care. Guys, that's not true. Believe us.
'He is not in intensive care, he is in a regular bedroom. He is not in risk, he is in treatment.'
Brazil will face Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday as the tournament enters its closing stages.
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