Pele to be moved out of intensive care after surgery to remove colon tumour

Brazil legend Pele will be moved out of intensive care in the next few days, his daughter Kely Nascimento confirmed.

The 80-year-old is currently treated at a hospital in Sao Paolo. Routine tests showed a colon tumour that needed to be removed.

On her Instagram page, his daughter wrote: "I wanted to say thank you thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the loving, concerned and supportive texts, DMs and emails you guys have sent me. I have not had the chance to respond to many but I do read them and I feel hugged.

"He is doing well post-surgery, he is not in pain and is in a good mood (annoyed that he can only eat jello but will persevere!). He will move into a regular room in the next day or two and then go home.

"He is strong and stubborn and with the support and care of the brilliant team at Einstein and all of the love, energy and light that the world is sending, he will get through this!"

The three-time World Cup winner was South America's all-time leading goalscorer on the international stage with 77 goals until last week when Leo Messi beat his record thanks to a hat-trick against Bolivia.