Former Brazilian striker Peleis showing improvement with regards to his respiratory infection, although he is still not expected to be discharged from hospital two weeks after his hospitalization.
The latest bulletin from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, where he has been hospitalized since November 29, provided an update on his condition.
“The patient continues to show improvement in his clinical condition, especially with the respiratory infection,” the update read.
The 82-year-old triple world champion, who is being treated for colon cancer remains in a common room and is conscious with stable vital signs.
Kely Nascimento, one of Pele’s daughters, returned to Brazil to closely monitor her father’s clinical evolution and on Monday, from the hospital, she posted a photograph of their hands intertwined.
According to his doctors, Pele was hospitalized about a fortnight ago to evaluate a change in the chemotherapy treatment he has been undergoing since having a tumor in his colon removed in September 2021.
Days later, it was reported that he was also suffering from a respiratory infection. The infection arose after the ex-footballer contracted Covid-19 a month ago, his daughters said.
The family have also denied media reports that Pele, considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history, is no longer responding to chemotherapy, prompting his doctors to discontinue his treatment and move him to palliative care.
Despite his hospitalization, Pele has been very active on social media, with words of affection for the Brazilian national team players after their painful elimination against Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
He also called on Neymar to continue with the Selecao after doubts were raised by the Paris Saint-Germain about his international future.
The former Santos forward also thanked France’s Kylian Mbappe for his support and consoled Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo after also losing in the quarter-finals against Morocco.