Everything you need to know about Marcia Aoki, the wife of football icon Pele before the legendary Brazilian's passing in December 2022.
Pele's standing in the sport he made well-liked is undisputed. Probably football's first celebrity, Edson Arantes do Nascimento was venerated wherever he went.
Better known by his nickname Pele, the late Brazilian was revered until his death on December 29, 2022, aged 82, due to his undoubted impact on the sport.
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A three-time World Cup winner, nobody may replicate the icon's achievements, whose longevity is commendable. Particularly when medicine and sports science were not as advanced, Pele transcended what was within the scope of reality.
The late Brazilian never played in Europe but is still regarded as the best to ever get on the grass. Such was his ability, influence, longevity and, above all, his legacy.
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While Pele is known for what he did on the pitch, his personal life was seldom in the public eye, in comparison. The departed 82-year-old fathered seven children before his death. He married three times.
Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Pele tied the knot in 1966 but divorced in 1982; his second marriage to Assíria Lemos Seixas ended in 2008.
Possibly unknown to many, Pele and Marcia Aoki were married before he passed.
Who is Marcia Aoki?
Born to Paulo and Isaura Aoki in Penapolis in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marcia Aoki's interest in entrepreneurship could be traced to her parents, who thrived as businesspeople.
After starting at a local school in Sao Paulo, Marcia subsequently secured a bachelor's degree that precipitated her sojourn into entrepreneurship - dealing with medical supplies.
Despite not being in the public eye, Marcia has a brother - Carlos Alberto Aoki. According to Sports Brief, she is a Christian.
How old is Marcia Aoki?
Born on March 22, 1966, Marcia Aoki is 57 years old.
Is Marcia Aoki Japanese?
According to Skabash, Marcia Aoki's parents - Paulo and Isaura Aoki - are both Japanese, although she was born in and began schooling in Brazil. Thus, she is Japanese-Brazilian.
Marcia Aoki and Pele
Despite tying the knot in 2016, Marcia Aoki and Pele met about three decades earlier in the 1980s.
The soccer star - still in his 40s at the time - was smarting from the divorce from his first wife - Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi - when he set eyes on who became his third in New York.
Not put off by the 25-year age difference, the attraction between the pair was near-immediate, according to Football Lovers.
Fascinatingly, it was surprising that Aoki and Pele did not get together in the 1980s and 1990s. But they reconnected in 2008 - around 20 years after they initially met - incidentally around the time the superstar was reeling from another divorce and got engaged two years later.
Reports indicate they could have married sooner, but Pele's health setbacks meant those plans were delayed for an extended period.
Six years after their engagement, Marcia and arguably soccer's greatest-ever player married in a private ceremony in July 2016 at a resort in Guaruja, Sao Paulo. Pele was 75. Marcia was 50.
They were married for seven years until Pele's 2022 passing.
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Did Pele and Marcia Aoki have children?
Despite having seven children - three from his first wife, twins from his second and a couple more from extramarital affairs - Marcia Aoki and Pele did not get around to having children. This was possibly an upshot of the icon's declining health and advanced years.
Nevertheless, Marcia was said to be a pillar of support as Pele's health worsened, staying at his side in his final moments in December 2022.
Her presence at the departed star's wake did not go unnoticed, and a heartfelt letter a month after his death was tear-jerking.
Marcia Aoki's open letter to Pele
"Saying goodbye to someone I love and getting used to not having my reason for living, his love full of affection, his unique humour and his complicity, will take some time," Marcia Aoki remarked in a statement posted on Pele's official Instagram.
"I wanted a few more minutes of exchanging glances. Some more days to play with our puppy Cacau.
'I catch myself waiting for you to say to me, 'Marcia, my love, good morning. Look how beautiful the sea is today.
'Despite knowing this is an inevitable destiny for all of us, for me, the realisation that this moment arrived is the feeling of empty space, of absence, that pushes down on my chest. But there's also another sentiment, one of huge gratitude for being able to share my pain with the rest of the world.
"We received thousands of messages of affection and solidarity, that filled our hearts with comfort and peace.
"I want to thank all the fans who still pay homage even now, as well as Santos Football Club and the city of Santos, who treated us so well in such difficult times.
"Sharing my life with Edson meant a true story of unique love. Sharing Pele's love with you as well. This love will never die and will continue between us. Eternally."
According to Mundo Deportivo, Marcia Aoki received 30 percent of Pele's assets.
Marcia Aoki's career
Mentored by her parents, who were successful entrepreneurs, Marcia Aoki followed that path and has thrived despite maintaining her private life.
After completing college, a young Marcia started her business to realise a dream that had developed since childhood.
She is now a successful businesswoman, who has risen in leaps and bounds since delving into entrepreneurship at a young age.
According to Sports Brief, Aoki specialises in the importation and distribution of medical equipment throughout Sao Paulo and other regions of Brazil. According to reports, Marcia's father has been of great assistance to his daughter whenever she requires his expertise.
Marcia Aoki's net worth
Even though she keeps her business private, Marcia Aoki's estimated net worth is above $500,000, according to various sources, with her career success pivotal, as stated by SportMob.
What is Marcia Aoki's relationship with Steve Aoki?
Despite Marcia Aoki and Steve Aoki being of Japanese descent and sharing surnames, they are not blood relations.
Marcia is Japanese-Brazilian, while Steve - a DJ and music producer - is Japanese-American.
Marcia Aoki's Instagram
Not to be confused with Instagram shoe lover Marcia Aoki, the Japanese-Brazilian's namesake, Pele's widow is not on social media as she prefers her privacy.
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