Pele reportedly improving, still in hospital with respiratory infection
There's promising news regarding the condition of football living legend Pele ahead of the weekend.
"The medical staff diagnosed a respiratory infection, which has been treated with antibiotics," Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo explained about the 82-year-old in a statement shared by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "His response has been good and the patient, who is in the regular room, is stable with better health condition. The former player (will) still be hospitalized in the next days to maintain the treatment."
Pele also addressed his health via a post shared on his Instagram page:
Football fans across the planet enjoying the ongoing FIFA World Cup were left concerned when it was learned earlier this week Pele had been hospitalized due to what was referred to as "generalized swelling." A later report said that he was dealing with bronchopneumonia and also "anasarca, generalized edema and decompensated heart failure."
As the AP noted, Brazil coach Tite sent Pele well wishes before the nation's World Cup match versus Cameroon on Friday.
"(Pele) is our biggest extraterrestrial representative," Tite joked about the icon at that time.
Supporters in attendance displayed a banner honoring Pele ahead of Friday's game:
While Brazil fell to Cameroon 1-0, ESPN's Tom Hamilton pointed out that Tite's side had already advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup. Brazil will next face South Korea on Monday.
Pele helped Brazil win World Cup tournaments in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and many experts and fans still consider him the greatest footballer in history. He had a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021 and subsequently underwent chemotherapy.
The AP said it's unknown if Pele's cancer has spread to other organs.
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