SAO PAULO, Sept 7, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Brazilian football great Pele has

undergone surgery for a suspected colon tumor and is recovering, the hospital
in Sao Paulo treating him announced on Monday.

  "The tumor was identified during routine cardiovascular and laboratory
examinations and the material was sent for pathological analysis," said the
Albert Einstein Hospital, where Pele has been treated since August 31.

  "I thank God for feeling very well," the 80-year-old wrote on his Instagram
page on Monday. "Fortunately, I'm used to celebrating great victories
alongside you.

  "I will face this match with a smile on my face, a lot of optimism and joy
for living surrounded by the love of my family and friends."

  Pele is due out of intensive care on Tuesday, the hospital said in a
statement.

  His former club Santos shared a message of support for the star on Twitter.
"It will be one more victory in your life, we wish you a good recovery!" the
club said.

  Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has been in poor
health in recent years, and has had various spells in hospital, most recently
in April 2019, in Paris, because of a severe urinary tract infection.

  Back in Brazil, he had a kidney stone removed.

  At the end of 2014, he suffered from a serious urinary tract infection and
was placed in intensive care and on dialysis.

  He also has hip problems and needed a walker to move around during his
latest public appearances.

  In February 2020, Pele reassured his fans about his mental health, after
remarks by his son Edinho saying that he was "reclusive" and suffering "from
a certain form of depression."

  - Three World Cups -

  The only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970),
Pele is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

  He burst onto the global stage at just 17 with dazzling goals, including
two in the final against hosts Sweden, as Brazil won the World Cup for the
first time in 1958.

  Four years later, Pele gave a tantalizing glimpse of his ability with an
electric individual goal against Mexico in Brazil's opening 2-0 win.

  But he aggravated an existing injury in the second game, against the
Czechs, and was forced to sit out the remainder of the tournament as his
countrymen successfully defended their title . Nicknamed "O Rei" (The King),
Pele scored the opener in Brazil's 4-1 final win over Italy in Mexico in
1970.

  After retiring from international football, Pele went on to play for the
New York Cosmos, before ending his career with over 1,000 goals to his name.