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By Agency Report

Brazil football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pele has stated that “he is strong” after concerns over his illness on Saturday as he undergoes treatment in hospital in Sao Paulo.

In a statement released on Saturday he said messages of support as well as watching Brazil at the World Cup had given him “energy”.

Earlier the hospital had said he was “still undergoing treatment and remains stable”.

It follows a report in Brazil that he was beginning end-of-life care after not responding to chemotherapy.

“My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive,” he said in a statement on Instagram.

“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 watching Brazil in the World Cup too!

“Thank you so much for everything.”

BBC Sports reports that the 82-year-old three-time World Cup winner has been in hospital since Tuesday, and on Thursday night he said it was a “routine monthly visit”.

He had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021.

The statement from the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein on Saturday said Pele “had a good response to treatment for respiratory infection care”. It added he was undergoing a “reassessment of chemotherapy treatment”.

The legendary forward was diagnosed with a respiratory infection and on Friday the hospital had said he was in a stable condition.

On Saturday, the new statement said his condition has not worsened in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, messages of support have been sent from across the world.

Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games. At club level he is Santos’ all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals in 659 games.

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