Former Brazilian soccer player Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) has been hospitalized today for a month in a Sao Paulo hospital which, since December 21, declined to issue medical bulletins on his delicate health condition.

Havana, December 29 (RHC)-- Former Brazilian soccer player Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) has been hospitalized today for a month in a Sao Paulo hospital which, since December 21, declined to issue medical bulletins on his delicate health condition.

The 82-year-old former sports star has been hospitalized since November 29 at the Albert Einstein Health Center in Sao Paulo for treatment of colon cancer and a respiratory infection.

It was reported that the strict silence about his physical condition responds to a request from the relatives of the eternal number 10 shirt of the Verdeamarelha.

The day before, two grandchildren visited him in the clinic and his daughter, Kely Nascimento, acknowledged that the family is going through moments of great sadness.

"Those moments are difficult to explain. Sometimes a lot of sadness is despair, other moments we laugh and talk about funny memories," he wrote on the social network Instagram.

He noted that what "we learn the most from all of this is that we have to look for each other, and hold each other close. That's the only way it's all worth it. With everyone together," he remarked.

According to the latest medical report published on the 21st, O Rei is admitted for the purpose of a "re-evaluation of the chemotherapy for colon tumor and treatment of a respiratory infection".

The patient "presents progression of the oncological disease and requires further care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions".

The Black Pearl, as he is nicknamed by some sports commentators, is no longer responding to procedures and is under palliative care, receiving comfort measures to alleviate pain and shortness of breath.

An earlier medical report was released on December 12.

In the statement, the doctors said that the three-time world champion continued to show improvement in his clinical condition, especially the respiratory infection: "He is still in a common room, conscious and with stable vital signs".

Pelé was diagnosed with cancer in September 2021. In February of this year he was admitted to the Einstein to continue chemotherapy. On November 29, he returned to the health facility for a re-evaluation of the treatment.

Internet users suspected on social networks that the legend died after videos were leaked from Vila Belmiro, the stadium of Santos, the club he loved.

The images show a structure being assembled and photos of O Rei, as a posthumous tribute. So far, the death of the man revered as the greatest footballer in history has not been announced.