The Full Lineage: A Deep Dive Into Pelé's 7 Children And The Latest 2025 Family Updates
The legacy of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, universally known as Pelé, extends far beyond the football pitch, touching the lives of his large and complex family. As of late 2025, the world continues to follow the stories of the seven children the 'King of Football' acknowledged, each navigating their own path while upholding the weight of their father's legendary name. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date look at Pelé's complete lineage, detailing their lives, careers, and the recent legal developments that have shaped their inheritance.
The family structure of the three-time World Cup winner was often as public and dramatic as his career, marked by marriages, extramarital affairs, and legal battles for paternity. The most recent and crucial update, which solidifies his family tree, is the 2025 court decision on a long-standing claim, bringing clarity to the final chapter of his estate.
Pelé's Complete Family Biography and Lineage
Pelé's life was characterized by three marriages and several relationships, resulting in seven acknowledged children. His final will, a document of significant public interest, confirmed the inclusion of all seven children, including the daughter he once refused to acknowledge. Below is a complete profile of the football icon's immediate family.
- Full Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Born: October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Died: December 29, 2022, in São Paulo, Brazil (Age 82)
- Parents: João Ramos do Nascimento (Dondinho) and Celeste Arantes
- Wives:
- Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi (m. 1966; div. 1982)
- Assíria Lemos Seixas (m. 1994; div. 2008)
- Márcia Aoki (m. 2016)
- Acknowledged Children (7): Kely Cristina, Edson (Edinho), Jennifer, Flávia Christina, Sandra Regina (deceased), Joshua, and Celeste.
- Grandchildren: Octávio Felinto Neto, Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento, Arthur, Stephany, and more.
The Seven Pillars: Pelé's Children and Their Current Lives in 2025
Pelé's children have followed diverse career paths, from professional football and coaching to healthcare and public advocacy. Their public profiles saw a significant increase in visibility during their father's final days in late 2022, particularly through the emotional social media presence of his eldest daughter, Kely Cristina.
1. Kely Cristina Nascimento (Daughter of Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi)
Kely Cristina, often the most visible of Pelé’s children, became the family's public voice during her father's illness. Born in 1967, she is a prominent figure in the arts and advocacy space. Kely is a producer and public speaker, focusing her work on social issues and gender equality. Her ongoing work includes a film project centered on gender inequality in sports, a cause that aligns with her father's global influence. She is a key figure in managing the late legend's image and charitable work.
2. Edson "Edinho" Cholbi do Nascimento (Son of Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi)
Edinho, born in 1970, is the only son who followed his father into professional football, though as a goalkeeper rather than a striker. His career was primarily spent in Brazilian clubs, including Santos FC, the same club where Pelé achieved legendary status. As of 2025, Edinho has transitioned into coaching and is currently the manager of the Brazilian football club Londrina. His career in management is a direct continuation of the Nascimento name in the world of Brazilian football (Futebol Brasileiro).
3. Jennifer Nascimento (Daughter of Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi)
Jennifer is the third child from Pelé's first marriage to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi. Born in 1978, she maintains a lower profile compared to her siblings, Kely and Edinho. While her specific current professional details are less public, she was a constant presence alongside her siblings during their father's illness, demonstrating the family's unity in their final moments with the patriarch.
4. Flávia Christina Kurtz Nascimento (Daughter of Lenita Kurtz)
Flávia Christina, born in 1968, is the daughter from a relationship with journalist Lenita Kurtz. Unlike Sandra, Flávia was acknowledged by Pelé early in her life and maintained a close relationship with him. Her career path is in the healthcare sector; Flávia currently works as an advisory counselor at a major hospital in Brazil. Her professional life is dedicated to public service and health administration.
5. Sandra Regina Arantes do Nascimento (Daughter of Anisia Machado)
Sandra Regina, born in 1964, is perhaps the most famous of Pelé's children due to the protracted legal battle for paternity. Pelé initially refused to acknowledge her, leading to a five-year court fight. She eventually won the right to bear the name Arantes do Nascimento in 1996. Tragically, Sandra passed away from breast cancer in 2006. Crucially, Pelé’s final will acknowledged her, ensuring her two sons, Octávio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento, received their share of the estate, a final act of reconciliation.
6. & 7. Joshua and Celeste Nascimento (Twins of Assíria Lemos Seixas)
The youngest of the acknowledged children are the twins, Joshua and Celeste, born in 1996 from Pelé’s second marriage to psychologist and gospel singer Assíria Lemos Seixas. Both twins have pursued higher education in the United States, attending the University of Tampa (UT) in Florida. Joshua, like his older brother Edinho, attempted to follow in his father's footsteps, playing football (soccer) as a redshirt freshman for the UT team. Celeste also attended the University of Tampa, maintaining a private life alongside her twin brother.
The Final Paternity Claim: A 2025 Court Decision
The narrative of Pelé's family life has always included claims of unacknowledged children, a common theme for global superstars of his era. The most recent and significant of these was the claim by Maria do Socorro Azevedo, a 60-year-old woman who alleged she was Pelé's eighth child and sought a share of his estate.
The legal process, which began after the football legend’s death, was closely monitored by the Brazilian media and the family's legal counsel. The claim involved a request for the exhumation of Pelé's body to conduct a DNA test, a highly sensitive and dramatic request that drew global attention.
In a major development in March 2025, a Brazilian court formally rejected the claim made by Maria do Socorro Azevedo. This decision effectively closed the door on the possibility of an eighth acknowledged child, solidifying the legal standing of the seven children named in his will: Kely, Edinho, Jennifer, Flávia, Joshua, Celeste, and the heirs of the late Sandra Regina. This ruling provides a final measure of closure for the estate of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
The Continuing Legacy of the Nascimento Name
The passing of Pelé, the global icon and 'O Rei,' in December 2022, marked the end of an era, but the Nascimento name continues through his children and grandchildren. The distribution of his assets, which includes 60% left to his children, is now proceeding with clarity following the 2025 court ruling.
From Edinho's dedication to football coaching to Kely Cristina's powerful role as a public advocate and the educational pursuits of the twins Joshua and Celeste, each child carries a piece of the legend. Their collective lives serve as a testament to the complex, enduring, and ultimately loving family legacy of one of the greatest athletes the world has ever known.
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