Sandra’s children spoke to Pelé at the hospital: ‘we managed to end up forgiving’

Octávio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento, grandchildren of Pelé and children of Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento Felinto, daughter of the former player recognized only in court as Pelé’s heir in 1996, the result of a relationship between the former player and maid Anísia Machado, claimed to have forgiven their grandfather moments before his death last Thursday (29).

At the request of Pelé himself, the boys traveled from the United States, where they live, to participate with the family in the last days of their grandfather’s life. It was only the second time they had met in person.

“The last few moments were very good, despite being sad. We were in the United States and one of my aunts called me, at my grandfather’s request. We went straight back to Einstein”, said Gabriel.

“We talked, I told him everything, how much I admired him as a player and as a person. We stayed with our hands clasped, praying, talking… It was a very sad moment, but very important for me and my brother”, he added.

Sandra Regina died in 2006, aged 42, after complications from cancer. In 1991, she filed a lawsuit to be recognized as the daughter of the King of Football. She won five years later with paternity proven by DNA test.

Pelé filed lawsuits against her, but lost. Since then, she has used the surname Arantes do Nascimento.

“It was a difficult time at the hospital. I believe we managed to end it by really forgiving, this is the legacy that has to be left. Forgiveness and love overcome all things”, said Octávio.

Octávio Felinto tried his hand as a professional soccer player. He has passed through the base categories of São Paulo and even joined the squad of Guarani de Divinópolis-MG.

During a visit to his grandfather, the day before his death, he said on social media that he had fulfilled his mother’s dream. “To make mistakes and to succeed are part of our life, not everything is a thousand wonders, every family has fights and raids, ours is no different, but there are times when union and love are more important than anything else. I thank God for having provided this moment, because it was what my mother dreamed of the most, there are things that some plant and others harvest and we are harvesting”, he explained at the time.