Pele: Doctors provide update on hospitalised Brazilian legend

According to doctors’ statements on Tuesday, legendary Brazilian player Pele is recovering and has “no new complications.”

The 82-year-old spent a week in the hospital receiving treatment for a respiratory infection exacerbated by COVID-19. He is expected to be discharged from the hospital once he has fully recovered from the infection.

“(He has) stable vital signs, is conscious, and with no new complications,” the Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement.

Three-time World Cup champion Pele is undergoing chemotherapy while battling cancer.

Before Brazil’s last-16 World Cup victory over South Korea on Monday, which Pele had said he would be watching from the hospital, Brazilian fans gathered in Qatar. On their shirts, flags, and banners were images of a young Pele celebrating goals and winning championships with the Brazilian national team.

As they celebrated beating South Korea, Brazil’s athletes hoisted a banner in Pele’s honour on the field.

After winning 4-1, the team unfurled a banner that read “Pele!” and featured a picture of the legendary Brazilian player.

Pele reflected on his World Cup debut in 1958, when he was 17 and helped Brazil win the Jules Rimet Trophy in Sweden, ahead of Monday night’s last-16 match at Stadium 974.

He wrote on Twitter: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.

“I’ll be watching the game from hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”

Pele’s participation in the World Cup finals in 1962 and 1966 was limited by injury, but he came back to lead Brazil to a third victory in Mexico in 1970 as a member of what is widely regarded as the greatest international team ever.

The official tally for Pele’s illustrious career, which spanned from 1957 to 1977, is 757 goals in 831 games, but club Santos assert that number is closer to 1,000.