“As you can see, I have my fists in the air to celebrate that I'm getting better every day”, wrote the three-time world champion for Brazil, now 80 years old, on Instagram.

Three days after being discharged from intensive care at Albert Einstein Hospital, the Pelé was again hospitalised as a precaution.

Pelé was hospitalised on 31 August for routine examinations, having detected a tumour in the colon, which was removed in the operation he underwent on 4 September.

The results of pathological examinations and tumour biopsy have not yet been released.

According to the former striker, "good mood is the best medicine".

“It's so much affection that I've received that my heart is full of gratitude,” he added.

Pelé is considered by many to be the best player of 'all time', being the only footballer to have won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.