Pele to spend Christmas in hospital as medical update reveals Brazilian icon’s cancer has worsened

Pele will spend Christmas in hospital with a health report revealing his cancer has worsened.

The Brazilian football icon has been battling colon cancer since September 2021 and was hospitalised on November 29 for doctors to re-evaluate his treatment.

An update from Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital on Wednesday said the 82-year-old requires care for cardias and renal dysfunction.

He has also been treated for respiratory infection diagnosed following his hospitalisation.

“The patient remains hospitalized in a common room, under the necessary care of the medical team,” it read.

“Admitted since November 29 for a reassessment of chemotherapy therapy for colon tumour and treatment of a respiratory infection, Edson Arantes do Nascimento presents progression of the oncological disease and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions.”

Pele’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, revealed that the support of his fans was a ‘huge comfort’ to him.

“Your love for him, your stories and your prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Let’s turn this room into a Sambadrome (just kidding), let’s even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!).”

The three-time World Cup winner has been in and out of hospital since having a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021 and has been undergoing chemotherapy in his fight against cancer.

The latest update on his health after recent reports suggested his condition was improving.

“The patient continues to show improvement in the clinical status, in particular the respiratory infection. He remains in a regular room, is conscious and with stable vital signs,” medical staff at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital said.

There were initial concerns that he was close to death, although his family were quick to rubbish those suggestions. However, Pele’s condition appears to have taken a turn for the worse.