Former Brazilian soccer player Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pelé’, hospitalized since Tuesday and whose health has been a cause for concern around the world, said this Saturday in a reassuring message that he is “strong” and that he is continuing treatment for colon cancer who was diagnosed in 2021.
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“My friends, I want to keep you all calm and with positive thinking. I am strong, with a lot of hope and I continue my treatment as always,” said the three-time world champion, at 82, in a message that he posted on his Instagram account both in Portuguese as well as in English.
Considered by many to be the best footballer of all time, he thanked the messages wishing him improvements that he has received, as well as the medical and nursing team that cares for him at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, where he was admitted on Tuesday for an infection respiratory.
“I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you, coming from all over the world, keeps me full of energy. And assisting Brazil in the World Cup too,” Pele said.
alarms go off
The reassuring message came to pass a version published this Saturday by the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper which ensures that the legendary former Brazilian player is no longer responding to the chemotherapy treatment to which he is subjected, for which his doctors decided to suspend him and offer him palliative care.
Shortly before Pelé himself spoke, a medical bulletin released by Albert Einstein reported that ‘O Rei’ is stable and responding well to the procedures with which he is being treated for his respiratory infection.
Pelé “has also had a good response to respiratory infection care, without presenting any worsening in his condition in the last 24 hours,” the bulletin adds.
Pelé has gone to the same hospital monthly for chemotherapy sessions with which he is treating a colon cancer that was diagnosed in September 2021 and his relatives assure that the new hospitalization is routine.
Initiative of Torcida del Santos
La Torcida Jovem del Santos, one of the main organized fans of the Brazilian club in which Pelé was immortalized, called this Saturday a vigil for the health of the three-time world champion in front of the hospital where he is admitted.
The fans of Santos, the club with which Pelé won 45 titles, including two in the Libertadores and two in the Club World Cup, intend to gather in front of Albert Einstein for about three hours starting at 10:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Sunday.
The ex-soccer player’s health has deteriorated in recent years also due to other causes, such as spinal, hip and knee problems, which have reduced his mobility and forced him to undergo surgery, as well as suffering a kidney crisis.
This has drastically reduced his public appearances, although he remains very active on social networks.
