Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, has been released from a Sao Paulo hospital on Thursday to spend Christmas with his family.
According to reports, the football star was released from the hospital following a successful operation to remove a colon tumor. However, Pelé, will continue being treated for a colon tumor.
“The patient is stable and will continue his treatment for a colon tumor that was identified in September,” the statement said.
On Instagram, the 81-year-old Pele posted a picture of himself smiling. The photo, he wrote, was “not for nothing.”
“As I had promised you guys, I will spend Christmas with my family. I’m going home. Thanks for all the kind messages,” he wrote.
In early December, Pele had said he would be home from the hospital in days.
Widely considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the three-time World Cup winner has suffered from a series of health issues in recent years. Hip surgery left him with recurring pain and he cannot now walk unaided.
Pelé helped Brazil win the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and is his country’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches.
