The identity of the secret lovechild Pele put in his will has been revealed, much to the shock of his family.
Born after the Brazilian footie icon had a fling with her mother in the 1980s, Maria do Socorro Azevedo could now be entitled to a slice of his fortune. When Pele died in December last year, his wealth was estimated at £12million – but now reports in Brazil suggest it could be as high as £75m.
His will insists Maria must have a DNA test and if it proves a match, she will be given a share of the cash. Pele was married three times and officially has seven children.
But last year, Ms Azevedo started a paternity recognition process before the Sao Paulo State Public Defender. The Regional Court even notified Pele but the deterioration of his health prevented a DNA test.
A source said: “Pele mentioned in his will the existence of Maria do Socorro Azevedo, who could be his daughter, and officially expressed she must receive part of his assets if the DNA test confirms the paternity. It seems Pele used the will to let his family know about the heir.”
Lawyer Augusto Miglioli, who represents three of Pele’s children, said of Maria’s claim: “The part that would be allocated to her, given the possibility that she is an heir, will necessarily be reserved.”
In a separate development, it emerged that Pele’s stepdaughter Gemima Lemos MacMahon – who the star’s second wife, Assiria, had before they married – has also officially applied to be an heir.
Under Brazilian law, how the money is finally distributed will not be made public unless the family opts to do so. The son of Fluminense forward Dondinho, Pele was regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Born into poverty, he grew up in Sao Paulo, where he went for a trial with top club Santos as a 15-year-old. He made his senior debut at the same age, scoring in a 7-1 win over Corinthians.
And he then announced himself on the global football stage aged just 17 when he starred in Brazil’s winning 1958 World Cup campaign. The prodigy netted a hat-trick in the semi-final and then a double in the 5-2 final against hosts Sweden.
Pele went on to win three World Cups and remains the only player to achieve the feat. His death from colon cancer aged 82 on December 29 last year sent shockwaves through the world of sport.
Hundreds of thousands of fans turned out to line the streets of Santos to say their final goodbyes ahead of his funeral. His open coffin was placed in the centre circle of Santos’ home ground, Estadio Urbano Caldeira, and supporters filed solemnly past, day and night.
Pele was laid to rest in a vertical cemetery that overlooks the stadium and where his beloved father is interred. He was survived by his third wife, entrepreneur Marcia Aoki.
