Anish Vij
Soccer icon Pele has updated worried fans after his recent hospital visit.
The 82-year-old underwent surgery to remove a tumour in September 2021 and his treatment for colon cancer remains ongoing.
Recent reports suggested that Pele's visit to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo earlier this week was a serious one.
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It was being said that the former footballer was suffering from 'swelling and heart issues'.
The hospital then told confirmed that Pele was not in the ICU and was in a stable 'condition', with he three-time World Cup champ having since updated his followers that the incident was nothing more than a 'monthly visit'.
Attached to a photograph of a ‘get well soon’ message displayed on buildings at the World Cup in Qatar, Pele wrote: "Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit. It's always nice to receive positive messages like this.
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"Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes!"
His daughter, Kely Nascimento, also reassured fans that her father's hospital visit was not an 'emergency'.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, she wrote: “Lots of alarm in the media today concerning my dad’s health.
“He is in the hospital regulating medication.
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“Some of my siblings are visiting Brazil. There is no emergency or new dire prediction.
“I will be there for New Year’s and promise to post some pictures.
“Really and truly, we appreciate the concern and love!!”
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Pele famously burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup by helping Brazil win their first ever World Cup honour.
He also won the World Cup in 1962 and 1970.
Officially, Pele scored 757 goals in 831 games during a glittering career from 1957 to 1977.
His club Santos claim his tally was closer to 1,000.
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From one Brazil legend to another, 39-year-old Dani Alves will become the country's oldest World Cup captain in their final group game against Cameroon on Friday (December 2).
Alves, who will be starring in his third World Cup finals, said: “For me it represents the fact that I can wear the Brazil jersey. It makes me very proud to be here.
“I’ve been with the Brazilian squad for many years and to be able to wrap up this cycle, playing a World Cup, makes me very happy.
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“It’s been 16 years with the national squad and I’ve tried to do my very best. Life, I think, always rewards the people who love what they do, who truly do their best in the mission.
“I think I’m reaping what I have planted over those 16 years.”