SAO PAULO (AFP) - Pele arrived back in Brazil on Tuesday (April 9) after having surgery for a "severe urinary infection" during a six-day hospital stay in France that revived fears about the three-time World Cup winner's state of health.
The 78-year-old, who is widely considered to be the greatest footballer in history, was discharged late Monday from the private American hospital in the Paris suburbs where he had been taken after falling ill following an appearance at a promotional event with France striker Kylian Mbappe.
After arriving at the Sao Paulo-Guarulhos airport in Brazil, Pele was taken through a gaggle of reporters at the terminal in a wheelchair and was driven away in a van.
"Once again, thank God, everything went well. I'm alive. Long live Brazil," said Pele, a gold cross hanging around his neck, after he arrived in Brazil's biggest city.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Brazilians and all those who called the hospital, who called me, for my operation, to wish me a rapid recovery," he added.
He also thanked the hospital for his treatment, saying: "France not only has great footballers, it also has very good doctors."
NEYMAR VISIT
In a statement on Monday on the Globoesporte.com site, Pele said he had required "medical assistance and surgery" for a "severe urinary infection."
Before he was discharged, current Brazil star Neymar, who plays alongside Mbappe for Paris Saint-Germain, paid him a visit at the hospital.
Â
Neymar posted a photo on his Instagram account Monday of himself next to a smiling Pele in his hospital bed with the two holding hands.
Brazil's G1 reported that Pele had intended to come out of hospital on Saturday to return to his home country, but had been delayed because he had to undergo further tests.
The urinary tract infection was not serious and was under control, members of Pele's entourage had said.
Pele, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and perhaps most memorably in Mexico in 1970 when his swashbuckling team re-defined modern football, has had several health scares in recent years.
A similar urinary infection put him in intensive care in November 2014.
In 2016, Pele, who played 1,363 professional matches, scoring 1,281 goals, turned down the chance to light the flame at the Rio Olympics because he had undergone hip surgery earlier that year and was suffering from muscle pains.
In 2017, he appeared at the draw in Moscow for the World Cup in Russia but was in a wheelchair on that occasion too.
In January 2018, he cancelled a trip to London fearing a "stressful" and "tiring" journey.
At the event for a sponsor in Paris, Pele remained sitting throughout his meeting with Mbappe - the two men are the only teenagers to have scored in a World Cup final.
LONDON • Manchester United have been on a roll since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment with 11 wins from 13 games in all competitions, but Jurgen Klopp believes he has "the blueprint" to inflict their first Premier League loss under the caretaker boss tomorrow.
Tottenham must adopt Liverpool(ish) blueprint to beat
Brazil have called up Chelsea forward Willian to replace Neymar, who has been ruled out of the 2019 Copa America after rupturing ankle ligaments.
Football: Chelsea's Willian to replace Neymar in Brazil's
sportstoft.com/soccer/football-chelseas-willian-to-replace-neymar-in-brazils-copa-america-squad/
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Chelsea's Willian will replace Neymar in Brazil's Copa America squad, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday (June 7), after the world's most expensive player was sidelined by injury.
Chelsea winger Willian called up to Brazil's Copa America
Jun 10, 2019 · The United States women's national team is the best in the world and has been for decades. The 28 women suing U.S. Soccer have, in some cases, very little in common other than their sport
Women's Team Sues Over 'Institutionalized' Discrimination
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to offer hope to Real Madrid fans that he will stay at the club during his side's Champions League trophy parade on Sunday.. The 33-year-old had a quiet game in the 3-1
The weird and wonderful world of Cristiano Ronaldo's endorsements
Mar 06, 2019 · Porto converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review three minutes from the end of extra time to beat Roma 3-1 and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.. Fernando went down as he tried to
Porto 3 Roma 1 (4-3): Alex Telles penalty sends Portuguese
Barcelona on the verge of La Liga title after beating Alaves
Barca's Dembele back to training ahead of Man United clash. Published April 4, 2019 April 4, and Ousmane Dembele were back training with the group," the La Liga leaders said on their website.
Football: Barca's Dembele back training ahead of Man United
Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to training at the end of February. The 24-year-old has been out since suffering knee ligament damage during the Champions League semi
Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. The three-times winners will be aiming not only to retain the trophy they won in 2015 but also build on their legacy as soccer's dominant women's team and further
Soccer: Holders U.S. shrug off weight of World Cup expectations
Football: Singapore Premier League club Warriors barred from foreign hires by Ministry of Manpower for second time - The Straits Times SINGAPORE - For the second time in eight months, Singapore Premier League (SPL) club Warriors FC have had their work pass privileges suspended by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for violating the Employment Act.
Ministry of Football Private Limited - 9,986 Photos - Sports
National Football: Baihakki salutes Kadir, Raddy, Football
'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stun imploding Iran at Asian Cup January 29, 2019 dtinews Leave a Comment Japan cashed in on a defensive mix-up and a controversial penalty as they stunned favourites Iran 3-0 in the Asian Cup semi-finals to move one win away from their fifth title on Monday.
'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stun imploding Iran at Asian Cup
0 comments:
Post a Comment