Pelé’s heirs agree on will and do DNA to verify new daughter

The heirs of Pelé, who died on December 29th from colon cancer, agreed to the terms of the will left by the King of Football. The São Paulo Court, through a decision published by judge Andrea Roman, from the 2nd Family and Succession Court, determined compliance with the document. The information was confirmed to Estadão by lawyer Luiz Kignel, representing Márcia Aoki, Pelé’s widow.

“It’s a relevant advance because it removes any discussion about the validity of the will”, says Kignel. “The heirs could possibly discuss some testament clause, but this is important because it makes clear the respect for Pelé’s will”, he concludes.

According to the lawyer, the next step will be to complete the survey of Pelé’s assets to complete the inventory. It is estimated that Pelé left a fortune of R$78 million. Edinho, the King’s most famous son, was appointed inventor with the approval of his brothers after Marcia Aoki gave up the role. The former goalkeeper asked to manage his father’s inheritance, arguing that he was more familiar with the family business. It is estimated that Pelé left a fortune of R$78 million.

According to lawyer Augusto Miglioli, who represents Edinho in the inventory matter, Pelé’s children are undergoing laboratory tests that could prove the existence of a new daughter of the King of Football. Pelé was responding in court to a paternity action filed by Maria do Socorro Azevedo, who is represented by the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office and claims to be her daughter, making her also the legitimate heir to the player’s inheritance. The King did not appeal and decided to take the DNA test, but he ended up dying before taking the test. He mentioned the possibility of having another daughter in his will.

Out of respect for what was determined by Pelé in his will, the children decided to carry out the DNA test. The process is necessary to determine the sharing of the inheritance. If the test is proven, the sharing of assets will have one more person involved. In September, they also agreed to include Gemima, the Football King’s stepdaughter, among the heirs.

HEIRS

In the will, signed in 2020, Pelé allocates 30% of all his assets to Márcia – including a house in Guarujá -, 60% to be divided between his six children and his stepdaughter, and another 10% for two grandchildren, Sandra’s children. Regina, who died in 2006, a daughter he never recognized. If Maria do Socorro is recognized as the legitimate heir, she will be divided into 60% with her children.

Márcia married Pelé in 2016, when the King was already 75 years old. According to the Brazilian Civil Code, all people over 70 years of age must marry with separation of assets. Aged 56, she was the athlete’s third wife and had been dating him since 2010. The widow, who currently works at a medical supplement import company, met Pelé while studying business administration in New York, USA, in the 1980s. from Penápolis, in the interior of São Paulo.

Before Márcia, Pelé had been married twice: to Rosimeri Cholbi and to gospel singer Assíria Nascimento. Edinho, 52, Jennifer, 43, and Kely, 54, are the children Pelé had with Rosemeri. The twins Celeste and Joshua, aged 26, are the result of his relationship with Assíria. Sandra, who died of cancer in 2006, was the result of a quick relationship that the King had with Anísia Machado, in 1966. Paternity was recognized years later through a DNA test. Flávia Cristina is the daughter of Lenita Kurtz, who had a relationship with Pelé in 1969.