Xuxa and Pelé had a relationship marked by controversy, infidelity and misunderstandings. A story that continues to surprise the public after more than four decades.
The story of Xuxa Meneghel and Pelé was much more than a romance between a young rising model and a world football legend. For six years, their relationship made headlines, generated criticism and left a trail of controversy that, decades later, continues to be the talk of the town.
The age difference, the constant infidelities and the opposing versions of what they experienced together marked this bond. What for her was her first love, for him was a “colorful friendship,” a term that unleashed even more speculation about its true nature.
Maria da Graça Meneghel, better known as Xuxa, appears on a television program on the “TV Globo” network. | Source: Getty Images
How did this relationship begin? What led Xuxa to normalize situations that she later described as harmful? And why did Pelé always maintain that their relationship was not exclusive? We review the details of a romance that, although it ended decades ago, continues to generate interest.
Head and shoulders portrait of New York Cosmos soccer sensation Pele standing on the field in a New York Cosmos uniform. | Source: Getty Images
The beginning of a media relationship that shook Brazil
Xuxa and Pelé met in 1980, during a photo shoot for a well-known Brazilian magazine. She was 17 years old, he was about to turn 40. According to the presenter herself, that first meeting was not a coincidence and Pelé showed interest from the beginning:
“There were four models, Luiza, Marcia Brito, myself, and supposedly a black woman, but he didn’t want to. At that time they put Miss Brazil, who came from Brasilia. In the photo, I appeared facing him.”
Maria da Graça Meneghel, better known as Xuxa, appears on a television program on the “TV Globo” network. | Source: Getty Images
After the rehearsal, the former footballer invited her to dinner, but Xuxa turned him down, citing her age and the distance she had to travel. However, Pelé insisted :
“He invited me to dinner, I told him I couldn’t because I lived far away and I was underage. Then he called my house and my father hung up thinking it was a joke, but then he ended up accepting.”
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, Pele, of Brazil celebrates victory after winning the 1970 World Cup Mexico match between Brazil and Italy at the Azteca Stadium on June 21 in Città del Messico, Mexico | Source: Getty Images
From the beginning, their relationship generated divided opinions. On the one hand, there were those who criticised the large age difference. On the other, there were those who pointed the finger at Xuxa for allegedly seeking notoriety through her relationship with the football icon.
The rise of Xuxa and the criticism of her relationship with Pelé
When she met Pele, Xuxa was an emerging model who, in 1980, appeared on more than 80 covers, including that of “Playboy” magazine. However, her big break to fame occurred in 1982, when she participated in the film “Love, Strange Love.”
Portrait of Brazilian TV presenter and singer Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel (Xuxa), Madrid, Spain, 1991. | Source: Getty Images
During those years, her relationship with Pelé was a recurring topic in the media. Xuxa was accused of wanting to boost her career through her relationship with the Brazilian star, while Pelé was criticised for dating an underage girl.
Xuxa always defended the authenticity of her romance. In her book “Memorias” she confessed that, despite the difficulties, she considered Pelé to be her first love and the first person with whom she had a stable relationship.
Pelé, the football player for the Santos Football Club of Brazil. | Source: Getty Images
Infidelities and a colorful friendship that Xuxa didn’t know about
Despite the affection Xuxa claimed to feel, the relationship deteriorated due to constant infidelities. In her documentary “Xuxa, el documental” she revealed that she accepted situations that she later recognized as harmful:
“I had to accept the betrayal without wanting to. It wasn’t an open relationship. I had no right to do anything, but he could, because he was Pelé. And since he was my first man, I couldn’t compare him to him and then realize that it wasn’t healthy.”
Maria da Graça Meneghel, better known as Xuxa, appears on a television program on the “TV Globo” network. | Source: Getty Images
Pelé, for his part, has always given a different version. In interviews, he described his relationship with Xuxa as a “colourful friendship” and maintained that there was never an exclusivity agreement.
According to the former footballer, their separation had nothing to do with infidelity, but with the different expectations that both had. Xuxa wanted a family, but Pelé, after his first marriage and with three children, did not want to take on that responsibility again.
Brazilian soccer player Pelé of the New York Cosmos poses with a trophy in 1977. | Source: Getty Images
The breakup: when Xuxa decided to end the relationship
The relationship ended when Xuxa was 23. By then, her career in children’s television had been consolidated and her popularity had crossed Brazilian borders.
In her book “Memoirs,” she recounted how she realized that her romance had no future:
“I was very young, without any experience, and I took everything he told me as absolute truth. I accepted his betrayals until there came a time when I couldn’t stand it anymore. Our relationship had no future. For me we were dating and for him it was a colorful friendship.”
Xuxa at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos, March 25, 1990 | Source: Getty Images
Pelé, for his part, said that the relationship ended because she wanted a family life that he was not willing to offer her.
Xuxa’s reaction after Pele’s death
On December 29, 2022, Pelé passed away at the age of 82, leaving behind a historic legacy in world football. Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, Xuxa was quick to express her condolences to his family:
“Márcia, Kelly, Edinho, Jennifer, Joshua, Celeste and family (children of the heart), grandchildren, nephews, Lucía and all those who were by Dico’s side, my affectionate hug. May the pain of loss be transformed into good memories to be less heavy.”
Pele holds a replica of the World Cup trophy during a press conference at The Peninsula on March 26, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. | Source: Getty Images
Her message was shared on her Instagram account, where she used the family nickname by which she knew Pelé.
Although their romance ended years ago, the story of Xuxa and Pelé continues to generate debate, especially because of the complex dynamics that came to light over time.
Now, the presenter is back in the news for a fact that has worried her followers and that marks a new chapter in her life.
Recently, Xuxa shared images on social media where she can be seen with thinner hair and visibly bald areas. The presenter has addressed the issue frankly, showing that self-acceptance is key to dealing with the physical changes that come with age.
This confession has generated a wave of reactions on the Internet, where her followers have expressed both support and criticism towards her new appearance.
Xuxa’s race
Xuxa Meneghel was born in 1963 in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. At the age of 7, her family moved to Bento Ribeiro, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro that the artist considers her true home. There, while dreaming of becoming a veterinarian, she was discovered by an employee of the Bloch publishing house, who offered her a modeling audition.
Her modeling career took off quickly. Shortly before turning 17 , she appeared on the cover of Carinho magazine, and was soon after signed by the Ford Models agency in New York. By 1980, she had appeared on more than 80 magazine covers, including an essay for Playboy, which she later withdrew from the market as her fame as a children’s presenter grew.
The leap to television came in 1983, when Mauricio Sherman called her to host “Clube da Criança” on Rede Manchete. Despite her success in modeling, Xuxa decided to dedicate herself to working with children, a decision that catapulted her to worldwide fame. In 1986, she began hosting Xou da Xuxa on the Globo network, a program that turned her into a global phenomenon, with adapted versions in Argentina and the United States.
In addition to television, Xuxa also dabbled in music . Her album “Xou da Xuxa 3” sold over three million copies in 1988, and songs like “Ilariê” became children’s anthems. She also opened her own theme park in São Paulo, “O Mundo da Xuxa”, in 2003, which was the largest indoor park in the Americas until its closure in 2015.
The interview
In a recent interview on the show “Casa de Verão”, hosted by Eliana, Xuxa spoke openly about her appearance and how she has coped with the passage of time. At 61 years old, the presenter confessed : “I don’t do radical things. I’m not one for botox or invasive treatments. People say ‘she’s old’, but I have a mirror at home, I know what I look like.”
About her alopecia, Xuxa said : “‘I could have more hair’, yes, I would like to too, but I don’t have it, you know? So, I think it’s a waste of time. I would like to tell people. It’s not that it bothers me, it’s that they are wasting their time, because I already know what they are saying.”
Reactions of Internet users
Xuxa’s revelation about her alopecia did not go unnoticed on social media. Comments ranged from unconditional support to criticism of her new look.
One user commented : “She’s bald too lol ,” downplaying the impact of the presenter’s confession. Another added : “Well just cut that hair ,” suggesting that the solution to alopecia could simply be to adopt a different style.
However, many others defended the artist, highlighting her bravery in showing herself as she is. Most agreed that Xuxa remains an icon for several generations, regardless of her physical appearance.
Despite the criticism, the Brazilian star continues to show her unfiltered life through her YouTube channel , Canal X, where she shares homemade beauty tips and family moments. This new chapter in her life proves that Xuxa remains a relevant figure, capable of inspiring both young and old.
Xuxa’s alopecia has become a topic of conversation that goes beyond aesthetics, opening a space to reflect on personal acceptance and aging in the entertainment industry.
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