80 year old Brazilian Legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé is set to be moved out of the Intensive care unit in the next day or two after having a surgery meant to remove a tumor from his colon. Being in the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo Brazil since 31st August, Pele has been receiving treatment right after the tumor was detected in routine tests. Daughter Kely Nascimento posted on Instagram a picture of the 80-year-old football great smiling from his bed at the hospital. "He is doing well post surgery, he is not in pain and is in a good mood. He will move into a regular room in the next day or two and then go home," Nascimento said on Instagram.
The hospital said last Friday that Pele was recovering satisfactorily. Pele has suffered from hip problems for years and cannot walk unaided. His public appearances were already being cut before the Covid pandemic and since then he has made few unnecessary forays outside his house near Santos. Concerns about Pele’s health emerged at the start of the month when he denied reports he had fainted, insisting he had undergone “routine examinations”.
Pelé retired from professional soccer in 1977 following an illustrious career. He joined Santos FC in 1956 at age 15. By the following year, he was the league's top scorer and had joined Brazil's national team. After 19 seasons with Santos, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos and played for three seasons in the United States. The star forward remains the only male player to have won three World Cups, having helped Brazil emerge victorious in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He is also Brazil's all-time highest scorer with 77 goals.