Woman could receive inheritance from Pelé after claiming to be his daughter.

Woman claiming to be Pelé's daughter will have her inheritance reserved until her parentage is proven

A woman claiming to be the daughter of the late Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pelé' will have her share of the inheritance reserved until the relationship is confirmed, the family's lawyer said on Saturday.

"The part that would be destined for her, considering the possibility of her being an heir, will be obligatorily reserved," said Augusto Miglioli, the lawyer representing three of the legendary footballer's six children, in an interview with Globo's G1 portal.

In his will, Pelé himself, who died on December 29 at the age of 82 from cancer, admitted the possibility of being the father of Maria do Socorro Azevedo, about whom no further details are known.

Last year, the woman initiated a paternity recognition process with the Public Defenders Office of the State of Sao Paulo, and the regional Court of Justice notified Pelé, but the worsening of his health prevented the genetic testing from being carried out.

However, Pelé included Maria do Socorro in his will, and the test to prove their relationship will be conducted with Pelé's other children.

If the paternity test result is negative, explained the jurist, that reservation will be distributed among the other heirs.

"There is an expectation of a right, and if confirmed, she will become an heir," emphasized the lawyer of Edson Cholbi Nascimento 'Edinho', Kely and Jennifer Nascimento.

Edinho, who is a football coach and also played as a goalkeeper for Santos, was appointed by the family as the executor in the distribution process of the assets, in which Pelé left 30% for his widow, entrepreneur Márcia Aoki, and the rest for his children and two grandchildren.

The distribution of Pelé's fortune is being kept confidential by the Justice system, but according to the US business magazine Forbes, the assets left behind could reach $15 million, although local media claim that the figure could be even higher.

Pelé was also married to Rosimeri Cholbi, with whom he had three children (Edinho, Jennifer, and Kely), and Assiria Nascimento, mother of twins (Joshua and Celeste).

Flávia Nascimiento is another daughter from a relationship outside of marriage, and the list of heirs is completed by Otavio and Gabriel Felinto, his grandchildren and children of Sandra Regina, who was recognized as Pelé's daughter by the Justice and died of cancer in 2006.

Pelé also allocated part of his fortune to his sister Maria Lúcia, who takes care of their mother, Celeste Arantes, who is a hundred years old, in the city of Santos.

EFE.