Pele health 'improving' but Brazil legend remains in hospital battling cancer

The Selecao legend, who won three World Cups, has been battling colon cancer since 2021 and was admitted into hospital last month.

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The 82-year-old has been at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein Hospital since November 29 to re-evaluate his treatment.

He is also being treated for a respiratory infection diagnosed following his hospitalisation that was aggravated by COVID.

Now, medical staff have given an update on the footballing icon's health.

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"The patient continues to show improvement in the clinical status, in particular the respiratory infection," they have been quoted saying by ESPN.

"He remains in a regular room, is conscious and with stable vital signs."

Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, posted a picture on her Instagram story of her hand on her father's from the hospital room on Monday, along with a picture of her laptop and her coffee.

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Messages of support have poured out from every corner of the footballing world, with Neymar and his Brazil teammates unfurling a huge banner in tribute to Pele following their victory over South Korea in the Round of 16 of the World Cup.

Fans also held up a banner of their own, featuring an image of Pele with the number 10 on his back and the message: 'Get Well Soon'.

There were grave concerns over the 82-year-old's health when news outlets in Brazil reported that he had been moved to palliative care.

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However, an update from doctors about his treatment for colon cancer was followed by a message on Pele's Instagram page that he was 'strong' and which called for calm.