Márcia Aoki: Who is the woman Pelé met at a party and whom he married in 2016

Imagine meeting someone in the 1980s and only starting dating them more than 30 years later. That’s exactly what happened to Pelé and businesswoman Márcia Aoki, 56. Both saw each other for the first time at a party in New York, but they only joined their destinies three decades later.

According to Pelé’s own reports in past interviews, both went to see each other inside an elevator in her building in São Paulo. At the time, she had just separated, and the two started a romance. Pelé said that she would be his last girlfriend.

In 2016, the two decided to go up to the altar to celebrate their union in an intimate ceremony in Guarujá (86 km from SP). Pelé was 75 years old, and his wife, born in Penápolis (479 km from SP), was 50. On his official Facebook page, Pelé published a photo with the businesswoman next to the wedding cake. In the caption, the former player declared “definite love” for the woman, and fans commented by sending wishes of happiness to the couple.

Before her, the King had already had two wives: Rosimeri Cholbi, who is the mother of Edinho, Jennifer and Kely, as well as Assíria Nascimento, who gave birth to the twins Joshua and Celeste.

Márcia Aoki was at the side of her husband’s coffin at all times and had to be consoled on many occasions by family members. She said keep silent.

In the last days of his life, Pelé was also surrounded by his family, including his grandsons Octávio Felinto Neto, 24, and Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento, 22, sons of Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento Felinto. It was only after a court battle, in 1996, that she was recognized as Pelé’s daughter and heir.

Upon arriving at their grandfather’s wake, they claimed to have forgiven him moments before his death.

“The last moments were very good, although sad,” said Gabriel. “This is the legacy that must be left. Forgiveness and love conquer all things”, added Octávio.

In addition to them, Pelé’s son Edinho, and his sister, Maria Lúcia, as well as other family members, went to Vila together.