Pele issues health update as football icon undergoes treatment ‘as usual’ after end-of-life care reports

Football icon Pele has issued an update on his health following reports he was receiving end-of-life care.

Fans and players around the world paid tribute to the Brazil hero, 82, after it emerged that he had stopped responding to treatment for bowel cancer.

He was admitted to hospital on Tuesday having suffered a respiratory infection but, on Saturday, medical staff at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital stated that Pele was in a stable condition and responding well to treatment.

In a statement posted to Instagram, the three-time World Cup winner said he will continue to receive treatment “as usual”.

He wrote: “My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive.

“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.”