Brazilian soccer great Pele has been discharged from the Albert Einstein hospital having been declared ‘stable’ by the health practitioners.

Edson Arantes Dos Nascimento (Pele’s real name) was admitted into the Sao Paulo hospital earlier this month for chemotherapy sessions for a colon tumor.

“The patient remains stable and will continue having treatment on the colon tumor that was identified in September,” read the hospital statement.

Even though the statement further added the former Santos hitman will still continue being treated, the 81-year-old has expressed his delight at leaving the hospital on his Instagram handle telling fans and well wishers he ‘will spend Christmas with’ his family.

“The smiling photo is not in vain. As I promised you, I will spend Christmas with my family. I’m on my way home. Thank you for all the kind messages.” Pele said.

The 3-time world cup winner has been in and out of health care centres in the last six years as his health status has been on a decline which won’t come as a surprise for a man of his age. In 2015, he underwent surgery for a prostate problem and in 2019 he had to return to the hospital due to a urinary tract infection. In addition, recently he has hip and spine surgeries.

Pele had hit the world stage at a tender of age of 17 at the Sweden’58 FIFA World Cup netting twice against the hosts in the final. He would go on to etch his name as one of Football’s greatest players winning two more world cups (1962 and 1970) and netting over 1,000 (although some stats claim 750) goals before hanging his boots in 1977.

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