'Pray for the King' – Kylian Mpabbe responds to reports Pele's health is deteriorating

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France icon Kylian Mbappe has taken time out from the World Cup to wish Pele the best amid reports his health is deteriorating

Brazil legend Pele and France icon Kylian Mbappe together in 2019.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

France forward Kylian Mbappe has taken time out from his World Cup 2022 schedule to wish Pele the best following reports that the Brazil legend's health is deteriorating.

Pele recently responded to fresh reports over his health by saying in an Instagram post that he was merely in hospital for a monthly check-up and the 82-year-old thanked fans in Qatar for their messages of support.

Before Brazil's match against Cameroon in Qatar on Friday, a huge banner was raised by fans with a 'get well soon' message for the three-time World Cup winner. 

And days earlier, those words were projected onto a building in Qatar. Pele included that image in his Instagram post and thanked the organisers for the 'good vibes'.

Fresh reports on Saturday claimed the former Santos striker was now in palliative care as he was no longer responding to chemotherapy to treat his cancer.

"Pray for the King," Mbappe tweeted.

Pele led Brazil to their first-ever World Cup in 1958, when he was just 17 years of age, and went on to win the tournament again in 1962 and 1970.

He is considered one of the greatest players ever.

Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.