Pele is responding well to treatment from a respiratory infection, his hospital in Brazil has said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported that the 82-year-old (whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento) was in palliative care after he had not responded to chemotherapy treatment for his cancer.
“Edson Arantes do Nascimento was admitted to the Hospital Israelite Albert Einstein this past Tuesday (29) for a reassessment of his chemotherapy for his colon tumour, which was diagnosed in September 2021,” a statement said.
“He is still undergoing treatment and his health condition remains stable. He is responding well to care for a respiratory infection, and his condition has not changed in the last 24 hours.”
On his Instagram account, Pele also posted an update on his health.
“My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive,” he wrote. “I’m strong, with a lot of hope and I follow my treatment as usual. I want to thank the entire medical and nursing team for all the care I have received.
“I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you all over the world keeps me full of energy. And watch Brazil in the World Cup too!
“Thank you so much for everything.”