Brazil icon Pele will spend Christmas day in hospital with an update released on his health confirming his cancer is worsening.
The 82-year-old is continuing to battle colon cancer and was hospitalised in Sao Paulo on November 29. An update on his condition has now revealed he requires care for cardiac and renal dysfunction and has also been treated for a respiratory infection.
An update from medical staff read: "Admitted since November 29 for a reassessment of chemotherapy therapy for colon tumor and treatment of a respiratory infection, Edson Arantes do Nascimento presents progression of the oncological disease and requires greater care related to renal and cardiac dysfunctions.
"The patient remains hospitalized in a common room, under the necessary care of the medical team."
Kely Nascimento, one of Pele's daughters, also provided an update on his condition and confirmed he will remain in hospital for Christmas.
"We decided with doctors that, for many reasons, it will be best for us to stay here, with all the care that this new family at Einstein gives us," she wrote on Instagram. "We will even make some caipirinhas (no kidding). We love you and we will give up an update next week."
Medical staff provided fans with some optimism last week by stating his condition had been improving.
Their previous statement read: "The patient continues to show improvement in the clinical status, in particular the respiratory infection. He remains in a regular room, is conscious and with stable vital signs."
There were initial concerns that the three-time World Cup winner was close to death with various tributes paid to him during the recent tournament in Qatar. However, his daughters quickly moved to rubbish those reports and said he was still supporting Brazil despite being "sick".
Send a message of support for Pele below
He posted on Instagram reacting to Brazil's elimination to Croatia in the quarter-finals, writing alongside a picture of Neymar: "I saw you grow, I cheered for you every day and I can finally congratulate you for reaching my number of goals with Brazil.
"We both know that this is more than a figure. Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport."
Addressing their elimination, he wrote: 'Unfortunately this is not the happiest day for us.
"My record was set almost 50 years ago, and nobody had managed to get near it until now. You got there, kid. That shows how great your achievement is."
