Pelé responds well to treatment for respiratory infections

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian soccer great Pele is responding well to treatment for a respiratory infection and his condition has not worsened in the past 24 hours, Albert Einstein Hospital said Saturday.

Pelé, 82, has been in hospital since Tuesday.

Recovery messages have poured in from around the world for the three-time World Cup winner, who is also undergoing treatment for cancer. Kely Nascimento, Pelé’s daughter, posted several photos on Instagram of Brazilian fans in Qatar wishing her father good luck with flags and banners. Buildings across the Middle Eastern nation also posted messages of support for the former football great.

Albert Einstein Hospital said on Friday that Pele was receiving antibiotics to treat an infection at the same time as he was undergoing chemotherapy for the cancer. Pelé, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, had a colon tumor removed in September 2021.

Neither his family nor the hospital said whether the cancer had spread to other organs.

The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Saturday that Pelé’s chemotherapy was not working and doctors had decided to put him in hospice care. The Associated Press could not confirm this information.

ESPN Brasil reported on Wednesday that Pele was taken to hospital due to « general swelling ».

Pelé helped Brazil win the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and remains the team’s all-time top scorer with 77 goals in 92 appearances.

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