LAST UPDATE | 17 Sep 2021
PELE WAS READMITTED to intensive care on Friday as he continues his recovery from surgery to remove a tumour on his colon.
The three-time World Cup winner’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, revealed earlier this week her 80-year-old father was out of intensive care at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo and “in a good mood”.
But the hospital confirmed that Pele had been readmitted to ICU “as a preventive measure.
“After stabilisation, the patient was transferred to semi-intensive care,” their statement read. “He is currently stable from a cardiovascular and respiratory point of view.”
The former striker revealed on 6 September a “suspicious lesion” had been detected during tests, prompting surgeons to operate, but vowed to tackle it “with a smile on my face”.
On Tuesday after thanking fans for their well-wishes, he added on Instagram: “I have already left the ICU and I am in my room.
“I continue every day happier, with a lot of disposition to play 90 minutes, plus extra time.”
Perhaps football’s first world superstar, he rose to international prominence when he helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup as a 17-year-old, repeating the feat in 1962 and 1970.
Officially, he scored 757 goals during a glittering career – club Santos claim his tally was closer to 1,000 – leaving him behind only only Cristiano Ronaldo and Josef Biscan on the all-time list.
– Additional reporting by AFP
