SAO PAULO: A cheerful Pele left hospital on Tuesday after a month of treatment for kidney stones and a urinary tract infection, joking that he was fit again and preparing to play for Brazil in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 74-year old former Santos and Brazil striker spent several days in intensive care this month but said he was not afraid of dying thanks to his home town of Three Hearts.
“I got the chills but I’ve felt that before and I was not to know it was an infection,” he said of the moment a few weeks ago when he was taken to hospital.
“I was worried. But I can’t say I was afraid of dying because I am a man of Three Hearts.
“Rest assured, I am already preparing for the Olympics,” he joked at a news conference shortly before leaving the hospital.
“In the Olympics three over-age players are permitted and I am one of them.”
Doctors said Pele would have to spend a week to 10 days taking it easy and would undergo physiotherapy.
Pele had surgery on his hip last year and was walking gingerly as he left the hospital.
He now devotes most of his time to business ventures and underwent surgery to remove kidney stones on Nov. 13, but was readmitted 10 days later with a urinary tract infection that required dialysis. At one point, he was moved into a hospital wing used for more intensive care.
Pele only has one kidney having had the other removed in the 1970s when he played for New York Cosmos.
The three-times World Cup winner, who is widely regarded as the greatest ever soccer player, thanked his doctors and the fans who sent him good wishes.
“I would like to thank all those who sent messages, from China, Pakistan, almost every country in Europe, I didn’t know that they were all paying attention to my situation,” he told scores of reporters and a national TV audience.
“It is very gratifying.”
Pele won World Cup medals with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and 45 titles, including two world club championships, with Santos.
He scored 1,091 of his 1,281 goals for Santos and last week, while in hospital, signed a life-long contract with the club.
Cheerful Pele out of hospital after health scare
Cheerful Pele out of hospital after health scare
Twisted Minds secure dominant championship win at ESL Saudi Challenge 2026 Finals
- The tournament showcased talent from across the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem and aims to give a platform to the next generation of esports stars
RIYADH: Twisted Minds have emerged as the winners of the ESL Saudi Challenge 2026 finals, reinforcing their status as a leading force in the Kingdom’s esports scene.
Entering the tournament — organized by ESL FACEIT Group — as defending champions, Twisted Minds delivered a dominant performance in the Overwatch 2 final, securing a commanding 4–0 victory over Kurohana.
The live LAN final, held at EFG Studios in Riyadh, served as the grand conclusion to a tournament designed to showcase the competitive depth and talent within Saudi Arabia’s national esports scene.
The competition featured a total prize pool of $20,000, providing significant rewards and incentives for the Kingdom’s rising stars as they transition from local play to high-level competitive environments. The finals followed an intensive online phase, bringing the top-performing Saudi teams together for a showcase of skill and national talent.
“The ESL Saudi Challenge represents a vital milestone in ESL FACEIT Group’s commitment to the local gaming community in Saudi Arabia,” said Franck Guignery, senior vice president and managing director, Middle East and Africa at ESL FACEIT Group.
“The competition enables talent to progress from national stages to global platforms while contributing to a sustainable esports ecosystem. This directly aligns with the goals of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, to establish Saudi Arabia as a premier global hub for gaming and esports and talent development.”
Positioned as a Saudi-focused competitive platform, the ESL Saudi Challenge forms part of EFG’s long-term commitment to supporting local esports growth by enabling talent progression, reinforcing professional standards, and fostering community-driven competition. Through these efforts, EFG aims to ensure the long-term international competitiveness of Saudi esports talent on the local, regional and international stages.
