SOCCER-PELE/HOSPITAL-FILE Soccer legend Pele undergoes back surgery in latest health scare

Record ID: 146742

  • Title: SOCCER-PELE/HOSPITAL-FILE Soccer legend Pele undergoes back surgery in latest health scare
  • Date: 19th July 2015
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (FILE - MAY 8, 2015 ) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL WHERE PELE IS IN CARE LETTERING AT ENTRANCE TO THE HOSPITAL READING: "ALBERT EINSTEIN HOSPITAL" EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL REPORTER RECORDING A PIECE TO CAMERA OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL PEOPLE WALKING IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE BUST OF ALBERT EINSTEIN IN THE HOSPI
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6QYGLPFQMDX95IZBHH1KSA3WS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Brazilian soccer legend Pele has undergone back surgery, a close aide told Reuters on Saturday (July 18), the latest in a series of recent health problems afflicting the 74-year-old former player.
    Pele, whose given name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has been at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo for the past "two or three days" and underwent a procedure to decompress a nerve root in his spine, his personal assistant Jose Fornos Rodrigues said. He did not elaborate further.
    According to GloboNews news channel, Pele is expected to leave the hospital on Monday (July 20). Hospital staff were not immediately available to comment.
    This is the third time Pele has been hospitalized since November. He spent two weeks at the Einstein facility with kidney problems, and in May he underwent prostate surgery in the same hospital.
    With more than 1,280 career goals and an unequaled three World Cup titles during his playing career, Pele is considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all-time.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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