Pele's daughter posts a picture with the Brazilian star's family but without the stricken great

Pele's daughter has posted a picture of her with some of the Brazilian star's close family members as they spend Christmas Day in hospital to be with the 82-year-old great.

Kely Nascimento shared the photo, which includes Pele's wife Marcia Aoki and son Edinho, from the hospital in Sao Paulo with an emotional caption.

'Almost all of them. Merry Christmas,' she wrote, referencing the absence of Pele.

'Gratitude, love, togetherness, family - The essence of xmas. We thank you all for all the love and light you send.

'In this crazy and amazing life, I would be nothing without them.

'Today and always, Merry Christmas, Merry Everything.'

Pele's family have gathered in hospital as his condition worsens - with his daughter vowing to stick by his side as the Brazil great receives care after his cancer progressed.

The 82-year-old, who had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021, was admitted to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo on November 29.

Earlier this week, a statement from the hospital said Pele required further care 'related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions'.

Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, had confirmed members of his family would spend Christmas in the hospital with him - his son and grandchildren have joined in daughter in being by his side.

On Saturday, she posted a picture on Instagram which showed her sitting next to one of Pele's sons, Edinho, and two of his children at the hospital.

'He (Edson) is here,' Kely Nascimento wrote alongside the picture, adding in a hashtag 'I will not be leaving, nobody will take me out of here.'

She also previously posted a moving photo of her father in a hospital bed as they cherish 'another night together' while he continues his cancer battle.

Pele, 82, has been battling colon cancer since September 2021 and was hospitalised on November 29 for doctors to reevaluate his treatment.

'We continue to be here, in fight and in faith. Another night together,' his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of Pele being hugged in bed. Pelé’s granddaughter Sophia can also be seen in the photo.

Along with the moving photo, a video was shared showing Pele sleeping his bed while family spoke to him.

Pele is spending Christmas in The Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein Hospital and there has been an outpouring of emotion in recent weeks, with star players like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe leading the well wishes to 'the King'.

In a recent Instagram post Nascimento said that the support of her father's fans was a 'huge comfort' to him.

She wrote: 'Your love for him, your stories and your prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone.

'Let's turn this room into a Sambadrome (just kidding), let's even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!).'

The hospital provided an update on Pele's condition earlier this week, detailing that he now requires care for cardiac and renal dysfunction.

'Admitted since November 29 for a reassessment of chemotherapy therapy for colon tumor and treatment of a respiratory infection, Edson Arantes do Nascimento presents progression of the oncological disease and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions,' the update from medical staff read.

'The patient remains hospitalised in a common room, under the necessary care of the medical team.'

Pele is widely considered Brazil's greatest ever player and he was able to watch his country's campaign at the World Cup in Qatar, despite being in hospital.

He burst on to the global scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup, helping Brazil to the first of their record five successes, before also winning the 1962 and 1970 World Cups with the national side.

Concern for Pele accelerated last month when a news report emerged that he was being moved to end-of-life care, something his daughters swiftly denied.

Speaking to Fantastico about her father last month, Kely explained: 'About three weeks ago he got Covid. He is vaccinated, with all the vaccines, but because of the cancer medicine, the chemotherapy, which is fragile, he got a lung infection.

'That's why he went to the hospital, because of the lung infection. Is he serious? It's serious, because he's a certain age, he's treating cancer.'

Flavia, his other daughter, went on to explain how the hospital is the best place for Pele to get the care he needs.

She said: 'At the hospital, he is better assisted. But he's not in the ICU, he's in a normal room. So he's not at risk. As a person with a more delicate health, it is better to be in the hospital.'

Since then his condition has become trickier and his family are now by his bedside as he continues to fight the disease.

The World Cup has been a tournament that Pele was able to follow closely around his treatment and the 82-year-old also watched the final of the tournament from his bed.

Having commended Brazil, despite their quarter-final exit, he once again took to social media to congratulate Lionel Messi and Argentina after their dramatic penalty shootout win against France.

'Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way. Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved,' Pele wrote on Instagram.

'My dear friend, Mbappé, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.'