Pele thanks medical staff for ‘solidarity and kindness’
RIO DE JANEIRO: SEPT. 24 – Brazilian football legend Pele has paid tribute to the medical staff caring for him following surgery to remove a tumour from his colon.
The 80-year-old posted a message on social media on Thursday in which he is seen smiling alongside two nurses at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital.
“The human being is amazing. There are professions that demand the daily exercise of solidarity, love of neighbour and kindness,” Pele said a short text accompanying the photo.
“Many thanks to nurses Alessandro and Leandro, who look after me every day. Together we are an invincible team!” he added.
Pele had surgery on September 4 after the tumour was found in routine medical tests.
The former Santos and New York Cosmos star is the only player to have won the World Cup three times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
He scored a world-record tally of 1,281 goals in a 1,363-match professional career that spanned 21 years. He was capped 91 times for Brazil and scored 77 international goals.
-Xinhua
