Pele out of intensive care as condition continues to improve

Pele has been taken off intensive care as his condition continues to improve, a Brazilian hospital said on Tuesday.

The 74-year-old Pele remains in the same room where he was transferred to five days ago to undergo kidney support treatment, but now was under “semi-intensive” care, the Albert Einstein Hospital said in a statement.

“Pele is getting better,” he was “lucid, eating well” and has been “walking around” the room, the hospital added.

He remains off the hemodialysis treatment that was needed to support his only kidney, although doctors said another evaluation will be done on Wednesday.


The hospital said Pele was in “good condition” in terms of blood pressure and the respiratory system, and continues to receive antibiotics intravenously.

The three-time World Cup champion was hospitalized on Nov. 24 after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection that stemmed from a Nov. 13 surgery to remove kidney stones. Recent tests have shown no signs of the infection.