Brazil football legend Pele on Monday backed Brazil‘s national team ahead of their World Cup round-of-16 match against South Korea, saying he will watch the game from hospital after being admitted there last week as he battles colon cancer.
Pele, 82, said in an Instagram post that he wished to inspire Brazil’s players by sharing a picture taken at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when the then-teenager shocked the world in leading the South American side to their first title.
“I’ll watch the game from here at the hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you,” Pele said ahead of the match starting later on Monday in Qatar. “We are on this journey together. Good luck to our Brazil!”
Internationally revered as one of the greatest footballers of all time — if not the greatest — Pele had a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021 and has been receiving hospital care on a regular basis.
He was hospitalised last week to reevaluate his treatment and is also being treated for a respiratory infection, according to medical reports.
His daughters confirmed on Sunday that he had COVID-19 and a heart rate below normal before being hospitalized.
Pele tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 17 and has been treated with medication to control pain and fever, but COVID-19 was one of the initial reasons he was taken to the hospital, sources told ESPN.
Pele played for Brazil and club sides Santos and the New York Cosmos as a striker. He helped lead his country to three World Cup championships three times — in 1958, 1962 and 1970 — a feat no other player has achieved.
Brazil are seeking to win a record-extending sixth world title.
