Advertisement
Pele, pictured earlier this year. AP/Press Association Images

Pele is 'conscious and talking' in hospital after being moved to special care unit

Iconic footballer is being treated in a Sao Paulo hospital but his agent has given a postive update on his health

Updated at 21.37

BRAZIL GREAT PELE, 74, was on Thursday taken into a “special care” unit in a Sao Paulo hospital after his health worsened, three days after being admitted with a urinary infection, the hospital confirmed.

“Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) remains in hospital. To receive the best care he was transferred in order to be monitored in a special care unit,” read a statement released by the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo.

Pele underwent surgery for kidney stones on November 13 before being released two days later.

The unit to which the three-time World Cup winner has been admitted is strictly speaking a step before intensive care and will allow him to be monitored more closely than in a regular ward.

“The patient has been transferred to a room where he will be more closely monitored, but it is not intensive care, it is an intermediate stage,” a hospital spokesman explained to AFP.

After confirming that he had been taken in on Monday, the hospital had said that Pele remained in hospital with tests showing the presence of a urinary infection.

His agent Jose Fornos said that Pele was tired after receiving too many visits, and added:

“Pele is receiving treatment that could go on for eight days. Thanks to God he is conscious and is talking.”

Two years ago, on November 15, 2012, he underwent a hip operation in the same hospital.

Pele, nicknamed O Rei (The King), was born in a humble home in the city of Tres Coracoes, but is considered by many as the greatest footballer in history with his exploits for Brazil and a career which saw him score 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.

He scored 77 goals in 91 games for his country and won his first World Cup aged just 17, scoring twice in the 1958 final win over hosts Sweden.

- © AFP, 2014

No words seem right – Phillip Joel Hughes, Cap 408, will forever remain 63 not out

Author
View 45 comments
Close
45 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Mac
    Favourite Paddy Mac
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Legend hope he makes a full recovery!

    322
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick
    Favourite Patrick
    Report
    Nov 28th 2014, 3:53 AM

    Was kinda pissed off when he described the irish soccer team some years ago as a poor version of England.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Hayden
    Favourite Trevor Hayden
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:34 PM

    Prayers for a true gentlemen and legend of football.

    215
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Boxer
    Favourite David Boxer
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:40 PM

    Beyond a doubt the greatest soccer player that ever lived.

    Really hope he makes a full recovery.

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eire
    Favourite eire
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:41 PM

    No that would be Lionel Messi!

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daz
    Favourite Daz
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Maradona

    67
    See 24 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linguistic Ape
    Favourite Linguistic Ape
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:51 PM

    Gary Breen

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Orange Order Loyal
    Favourite Orange Order Loyal
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:53 PM

    Jordan Henderson har har har

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:08 PM

    Or luke chadwick

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:10 PM

    All wrong.

    Lord Bendtner

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brandon Steers
    Favourite Brandon Steers
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:18 PM

    Big shout out for Clinton Morrison

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:05 PM

    Yea no sky sports. Unlike today where messi and Ronaldo are analysed from every angle and everyone’s a critic. Great footballer and the best of his era but if he was out against those two today he’d come up short. I mean how many games has anyone seen pele play. But all said hope he recovers fully.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:12 PM

    Equally if you put Ronaldo or Messi into a game during Pele’s time I think they would struggle just as much.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:18 PM

    In what way would they struggle?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stephen connolly
    Favourite stephen connolly
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:29 PM

    No Kieran Dijali. Sligo Rovers legend

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kershie
    Favourite Kershie
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:33 PM

    @ Andy: Ronaldo would fall over if one of those boys looked at him funny – he can’t be brushed off without going down like a bag of spuds!!

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:45 PM

    Comments like that are thrown at ronaldo a lot. It’s rubbish. he’s a guy with a big physique and a strong upper body. He fends off opponents regularly. The nature of soccer over the last 10-15 years has changed and there is a lot of diving. But that adds to the fact that if he dives in a particular game its analysed on every sports channel that week.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:57 PM

    I don’t think either player could deal with how physical the game was back then. Plus it’s hard to say if they would be as good as they are now if a boat load of money hadn’t been invested in them. Don’t get me wrong, they are all legends in their own rights but it’s difficult to compare the two considering how much the game has changed and the amount of money available to develop players.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eire
    Favourite eire
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:04 PM

    Why couldn’t they? They can’t adapt? That’s bull! Messi got kicked all over the pitch when he was younger in La Liga. He got up and dusted himself down everytime.. And he is so good he ghosted past players all the other times. I seen Ronaldo live and he didn’t score, very ineffective without the ball, messi defo more all rounder!! Pele never played in Europe against top class defences!!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:18 PM

    If they could adapt to football back in the day then why couldn’t Pele adapt to football now?

    Your arguement is void.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:24 PM

    I accept your point that the players are more nurtured and looked after compared to back in peles era. But that’s the exact point I’m also making. It’s not their fault they play in a time when football science is in its prime. They’re more athletic as well as being gifted footballers in today’s game. That alone would see them brush off a footballer from peles era with power and pace.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:38 PM

    Think the only way to settle this is a Rocky 6 style scenario. We force Pele to come out of retirememt and play a full 90 minutes against Messi and/or Ronaldo.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:43 PM

    I concur.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:59 PM

    They be kicked from piller to post and be gone in 20mins

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leo D. MacCallum
    Favourite Leo D. MacCallum
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 8:09 PM

    @eire Pele played in an era when the best South Americans stayed at home. He played against plenty of top class European defences in the international game – helping to win three world cups against the best they had to offer.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eire
    Favourite eire
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 8:23 PM

    You just said you didn’t think both players could deal with how physical it was back then you moron!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eire
    Favourite eire
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 8:28 PM

    Miroslav klose is the all time WC goalscorer! One winners medal and a runners up! He’s a great is he? Most of the best players where in Europe at that time. Pele is a great, but not the Greatest. Either is Ronaldo, in my opinion fat Ronaldo was a better player than Cristiano.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Onion Knight
    Favourite Onion Knight
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 9:34 PM

    @ eire.

    Don’t see how I’m a moron when I pose the same question back to you? Besides we’ve already settled this arguement with the Rocky 6 set up. Keep up Eire, you’re falling behind.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eire
    Favourite eire
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Proceed!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Nov 28th 2014, 11:11 AM

    “scholes says he admired cristiano ronaldo for how he adapted to the physicality of the premier league and cut diving out of his game despite being kicked more than any other player” :I

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Bishop
    Favourite Thomas Bishop
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:19 PM

    What will Southampton Do without him, I wouldn’t rely on Shane long for an entire season

    But in all seriousness, I hope he gets better, a true legend

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:07 PM

    Lets hope the greatest gets well soon

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hard yaka
    Favourite hard yaka
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:34 PM

    You can only beat what’s on front of you and in today’s game its messi or ronaldo fifty years ago it was pele. Messi stats are unreal but its hard to argue with 1200 goals in 1300 games and three world cups when the world cup was the be all and end all. There was no sky sports over hyped molly coddled players then you were good or you were in trouble. I still think messi but peles stats are pretty hard to argue with. Hope he gets well soon

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:47 PM

    Its what does it for me. 1200 goals 3 world cup winers medal. Gave everything….yep ill have that

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Grey
    Favourite David Grey
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:13 PM

    The best modern all round outfield player is Ronaldo! -he is breaking all the records!
    Pele was unreal and would have fitted into the modern game easily-better physio, diets training techniques, Football boots, Footballs easy to kick long distances-Pele would fit in in any era as would Eusebio!
    With drug testing now Maradona would probably spend most of his career Banned! !

    19
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute emeraldninja
    Favourite emeraldninja
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 9:50 PM

    Heard about this ealier. He’s not in intensive care& can still take visitors they claimed. Hopefully it’s not that serious!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Ebbs
    Favourite Jason Ebbs
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 5:21 PM

    Had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago and grabbing a quick photo with him and a little chat. True gentleman GWS ;-)

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Business Cat
    Favourite Business Cat
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 4:36 PM

    The next time you have an erection, think of Viagra crazy Pele.

    God of football, I hope he pulls through.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leslie Skinner
    Favourite Leslie Skinner
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 6:10 PM

    So sad The Greatest

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shawn Rahoon
    Favourite Shawn Rahoon
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 10:23 PM

    Absolutely ridiculous to compare a player of over 40 years ago to players of today. If running wasn’t judged by time there would be people out there saying Ronnie Delaney is the greatest miler of all time.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keelan O'neill
    Favourite Keelan O'neill
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 7:33 PM

    Awful urge to watch Escape To Victory.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 8:02 PM

    Broken ribs but executed that overhead kick like an absolute boss

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute emeraldninja
    Favourite emeraldninja
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 9:53 PM

    Class show.. always good for a spin every now and then.

    11
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thetruth
    Favourite thetruth
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 11:33 PM

    Stephens day on the couch dying with a hangover

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith O Beirnes
    Favourite Keith O Beirnes
    Report
    Nov 27th 2014, 9:49 PM

    Hope he gets well

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.