Pele leaves hospital, cheekily targets spot in Brazil's Olympic team

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 three-time World Cup winner spent 16 days at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo after being diagnosed with an infection that stemmed from an operation to remove kidney stones but, having left semi-intensive care over the weekend, he is now feeling "recovered".

"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.

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"Rest assured, I am already preparing for the Olympics.

"In the Olympics three over-age players are permitted and I am one of them."

Pele Brazil 1970

Image credit: PA Photos

Pele was originally hospitalised for the removal of kidney stones after fainting during a Santos match and complaining of abdominal pain.

Eleven days after undergoing surgery, he was hospitalised again after feeling ill and was subsequently diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.

He has only one kidney, having had one removed towards the end of his playing career.

The former striker underwent haemodialysis in a semi-intensive care unit for several days until his kidney recovered its functions.

He began to show medical improvement last Friday and was in such positive spirits that he posted a video on Facebook that showed him playing guitar.

Pele was moved into his own room on Saturday before leaving hospital altogether three days later.

UEFA president Michel Platini was pleased to hear the man voted FIFA's player of the century in 2000 was back in good health.

"We are all very happy to know he is leaving hospital," the Frenchman told radio station Europe 1.

"Pele is the greatest player in history and deserves to stay with us for a long time to come."

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.

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