ROMA. “I will face this match with a smile on my face, lots of optimism and joie de vivre surrounded by the love of my family and friends”: so on his social profiles Pele wanted to reassure his fans after the operation for the removal of a suspected tumor.
Pelé, who will turn 81 next October, was operated on for a suspected colon cancer last Saturday 4 September after he was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sa Paolo on 31 August for tests.
“Patient Edson Arantes do Nascimento underwent surgery last Saturday to remove a suspected lesion in his right colon at the Israelite Albert Einstein Hospital – reads a note from the hospital – The tumor was identified during the examinations cardiovascular and laboratory routine and the material was sent for pathological analysis. The patient, who is well, is admitted to intensive care, and the forecast is that he will be transferred to his room on Tuesday 7 September “.
On the same day he was admitted to the hospital, Pele’s entourage denied reports that O Rei had fainted. “Guys, I have not fainted and I am in excellent health – Pele always made it known via social media – I did the routine exams, which I had not been able to do before due to the pandemic. Please inform me that I am not playing on Sunday”, he joked.
After the news of the surgery, many messages of support to the Brazilian who then wanted to reassure everyone with a long post on Instagram. “My friends, thank you very much for the kind messages – he writes on Instagram – I thank God because I feel good and for allowing Dr. Fábio and Dr. Miguel to take care of my health”.
In recent years Pele has had several health problems with consequent hospitalizations. The last one dates back to April 2019, in Paris, due to a serious urinary tract infection. Back in Brazil, a kidney stone was removed. At the end of 2014 Pele – who has only had one kidney since he was a player – had already suffered from a severe urinary tract infection and was hospitalized in intensive care and on dialysis. Pelé has undergone various hip operations, and walks with the aid of crutches.