Brazil legend Pele discharged from hospital again after treatment for tumours

Brazilian football icon Pele has been discharged from hospital in Sao Paulo after receiving cancer treatment for two days.

The 81-year-old was readmitted to hospital earlier this week after being initially discharged last month following chemotherapy for a colon tumour that was detected.

The former Brazil international was hospitalised at the start of December, residing in the Hospital Albert Einstein for most of December after the tumour was discovered during a routine check-up back in September.

Pele has been undergoing chemotherapy in recent months and was readmitted to hospital on Wednesday for treatment on the tumours.

The latest update on the former star's condition was confirmed by the hospital this week, who said Pele "was discharged on Thursday and is in a clinically stable condition."

ESPN, as per Reuters, claimed that Pele was diagnosed with a tumour in the intestine, one in the liver and the beginning of another in a lung.

He was then set to undergo further exams for further potential cancer spots in order to ensure his condition was stabilised.

The Hospital Albert Einstein only confirmed treatment for the colon tumour and not the other reported tumours, with Pele's representatives not commenting on the report from ESPN.

Less than an hour after the hospital's statement on Pele's discharge, the football icon posted a tribute to singer Elza Soares, who passed away earlier on Thursday.

Soares was married to Pele's former Brazil international teammate Garrincha, with whom he won the World Cup titles in 1958 and 1962.

The three-time World Cup winner had initially undergone surgery to remove the tumour, which caused him to spend the majority of September in hospital.

Pele updated his Instagram account in December to explain to his followers that he was 'having small chemotherapy sessions', posted after his final treatment of 2021.

"I wanted to share this achievement with you. After all, every little victory is a reason to celebrate, don't you think?' he wrote, with an accompanying picture of him looking delighted with his progress.

"Don't worry, I'm just getting ready for the holiday season!"

After his re-admittance in early December, Pele's eldest daughter Kely Nascimento also updated fans with an Instagram post of her own.

"My sister Flavia Kurtz is giving him a hug for me! In two or three days he returns home to enjoy Christmas," she wrote.

"This was not a surprise. It was already scheduled and is part of the treatment. All my gratitude, always."

Many believe Pele is the greatest footballer in the history of the sport after his unique success at international level and countless titles with Santos, with whom he played for 18 seasons.

The Brazilian officially scored 643 goals in 659 goals for the club with whom he won 25 trophies including six Brazilian top-flight titles.

Pele, who ended his career by scoring 66 goals against three seasons with US side New York Cosmos, is most famed for his international career.

The goal machine netted 77 times in 92 caps for Brazil, with whom he won the World Cup crown in 1958, 1962 and 1970.