By many the greatest football player of all time Pelé has re-entered an intensive care unit in Sao Paolo’s Albert Einstein Hospital in an apparent deterioration of his health after he left the unit earlier this week.
Reports say that the 80-year-old legend was readmitted to the ICU due to acid reflux on Friday. Pelé had a colon tumor removed this month and stayed in the hospital for further monitoring.
According to a statement released by Pelé’s doctors on Friday, he is stable and recovering, something his daughter also said. Writing on Instagram, Kely Nascimento said:
“He is recovering well and within normal range. Promise! The normal recovery scenario for a man of his age after an operation like this is sometimes two steps forward and one step back. Yesterday he was tired and took a little step back.”
Pelé burst onto the international stage as a 17-year-old kid in 1958, scoring six times including twice in the final as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time ever.
Pelé and Brazil won the World Cup again in 1962 and 1970.
Santos claim Pelé scored 1,091, goals in his 18 years with the club, though the number is somewhat disputed as it includes goals scored in unofficial games.
He retired from football in 1977 being 37-years-old, and his health has been a source of concern to family and fans.
In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.
Pelé has suffered from hip problems for years and cannot walk by himself. In 2014 he spent time in the ICU due to a severe urinary tract infection.
His public appearances were already cut before the Covid‑19 pandemic and since then he has made few unnecessary forays outside his house near Santos.
