Pele may miss Russia World Cup opening ceremony

Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian football icon Pele’s presence at the inaugural World Cup match on June 14 remains in suspense as his scheduled trip to Russia has been cancelled due to ill health.

“He is feeling ill. He has problems in his legs,” his spokesperson said, adding the situation would only be clearer by Tuesday.

The football legend — who won the World Cup three times — is one of the main guests at the opening ceremony in Moscow’s national Luzhniki Stadium, where the home team will go up against the Saudi Arabians.

Pele, 77, has undergone several spinal, femur and cartilage operations of late, which have forced him to curtail his public appearances.

He has expressed concern about the Brazilian team saying the squad has not come together yet as a unit. He said it was the teams that won the past World Cups, not individuals.