Soccer legend Pele back in Brazil after hospital stay in France

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Pele arrived back in Brazil Tuesday after having surgery for a "severe urinary infection" during a six-day hospital stay in France that revived fears about the three-time World Cup winner's state of health.

The 78-year-old, who is widely considered to be the greatest soccer player in history, was discharged late Monday from the private American hospital in the Paris suburbs where he had been taken after falling ill following an appearance at a promotional event with France striker Kylian Mbappe.

After arriving at the Sao Paulo-Guarulhos airport in Brazil, Pele was taken through a gaggle of reporters at the terminal in a wheelchair and was driven away in a van.

"Once again, thank God, everything went well. I'm alive. Long live Brazil," said Pele, a gold cross hanging around his neck, after he arrived in Brazil's biggest city.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Brazilians and all those who called the hospital, who called me, for my operation, to wish me a rapid recovery," he added.

He also thanked the hospital for his treatment, praising France not only has great soccer players, "but also it has very good doctors."

After leaving the airport Pele was taken to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo for further tests. His doctors issued a statement saying Pele was "in good health."

Source(s): AFP