Pele to leave intensive care 'in next day or two' after surgery to remove tumour

Brazilian football great's daughter provided an update on her father's recovery in an Instagram post

Brazilian legend Pele attends the 2018 World Cup draw at the Kremlin in Moscow. AP

Pele smiles during the opening of the World Economic Forum on Latin America 2018 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AFP

Brazilian legend Pele in 1970. He is the national team's all-time top scorer with 77 goals. Getty Images

Pele celebrates his 1,000th goal - a number disputed by footbakll historians. Getty Images

Pele prepares to take a penalty against Vasco de Gama at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro November 19, 1969. AFP

A handout photo made of Pele posing after receiving the vaccine against Covid-19, in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2020. EPA

Pele's last match for the Brazil national team was on 18 July 1971 against Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Pele is lifted  by his Santos teammates after scoring his 1,000th goal against Vasco da Gama at the Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, in November 1969. Getty

Pele shakes hands with American politician Robert Kennedy after a match at the Maracana after Brazil had played the USSR on November 21, 1965. Allsport

Pele of Brazil celebrates the victory after winning the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Getty Images

Pele will leave intensive care in the next few days, his daughter Kely Nascimento said, as the Brazilian football great continues his recovery from surgery.

The 80-year-old, three-time World Cup winner has been in the Alberto Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo since doctors removed a tumour from his colon earlier this month.

"He is doing well post surgery, he is not in pain and is in a good mood (annoyed that he can only eat jello but will persevere!). He will move into a regular room in the next day or two and then go home," Nascimento said on Instagram.

"He is strong and stubborn and with the support and care of the brilliant team at Einstein and all of the love, energy and light that the world is sending, he will get through this!"

The hospital said last Friday that Pele was recovering satisfactorily.

Pele has suffered from hip problems for years and cannot walk unaided. His public appearances were already being cut before the Covid-19 pandemic and since then he has made few unnecessary forays outside his house near Santos.

Nascimento also thanked the thousands of people who had been in contact to wish Pele well in his recovery.

"I wanted to say thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the loving, concerned and supportive texts, DMs and emails you guys have sent me," she wrote. "I have not had the chance to respond to many but I do read them and I feel hugged."