Pele posts smiling picture from hospital with daughter after treatment on tumour

Pele's daughters have posted positives updates on the iconic footballer's health after he was readmitted to hospital.

The three-time World Cup winner, 81, returned to the Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paolo on Wednesday to undergo treatment on a colon tumour.

The news came three months after Pele underwent surgery on a colon tumour that was noticed following a routine check-up, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He spent a month in hospital before being discharged in October. At the time, it was confirmed he would need to undergo chemotherapy as part of his recovery.

Pele has remained positive since his initial diagnosis in September and his daughter Flavia Kurtz Nascimento has shared a picture of him smiling from hospital.

Her Instagram post was captioned: "My people!!! Calm down… Last visit of the year to Einstein… Keeping up the treatment, with control exams and chemo…

"Thanks to this wonderful team… my father just EVOLVES!!! Thank you very much for the affection, everyone… but Papi is great."

Kely Nascimento, another one of Pele's daughters, was also happy to provide a positive update to her 9,000-odd Instagram followers.

"I appreciate all the affection we've received from all of you," she wrote, re-posting her sister's photo of Pele smiling.

"This photo was taken 10 minutes ago at Hospital Albert Einstein where my father finished a procedure that had been scheduled for months.

"My sister Flavia is petting him for me! In two or three days he returns home to enjoy Christmas.

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

Pele has received thousands of messages of support since first entering hospital and thanked fans after leaving intensive care in September.

"My friends, this is a message for each of you," he wrote on Instagram.

"Don't think for a minute that I haven't read the thousands of loving messages I've received around here.

"Thank you very much to each one of you, who dedicated a minute of your day to send me positive energy. Love, love and love!"

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.

"For Brazilians, speaking about Pele is speaking about an entity, speaking about something far superior to everyone," once said two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo.

Pele was voted FIFA Player of the Century in 2000, sharing the prestigious accolade with Argentine legend Maradona.

"Pele revolutionised football," once said Brazilian World Cup-winning captain Cafu. "Pele stopped a war. Pele united countries, united families.

"There was no race problem, language problem. I was born in 1970. In 2002, I became a world champion. I was captain.

"I had the honour of receiving the World Cup Trophy from no less than whom? Pele! Man! If I say any more I'll cry. It's really emotional!"