February 22, (THEWILL) – Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, the legendary Brazilian footballer known more affectionately as Pele, is set to remain in a Sao Paulo hospital for a urinary tract infection, where he was already receiving chemotherapy for a colon tumour, according to the facility.
THEWILL recalls that on February 13, the 81-year-old former athlete was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo to continue his treatment for a colon tumour discovered in September. Since then, he is been in the hospital.
Pele’s hospitalisation has now been extended after the hospital discovered a urinary tract infection during routine checks eight days after his admission.
In an official statement released on Monday, the hospital authorities noted: “Clinical conditions are stable, and hospital discharge should occur in the next few days.”
Pele had surgery for the tumour on September 4th and stayed in the hospital for a month before being released to undergo chemotherapy, as THEWILL reported.
It is the latest in a long list of health issues for the aging football icon, whose public appearances became increasingly rare.
Pele, whom Brazilians lovingly refer to as “O Rei” (The King), is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time. He is the only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970).
At the age of 17, he made his mark on the world scene by scoring a flurry of goals, including two in the World Cup final against hosts Sweden, as Brazil won the tournament for the first time in 1958.
Before retiring in 1977, he had one of the most illustrious careers in sports, scoring over 1,000 goals.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
