Sao Paulo: Pele is responding well to antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection and his condition is improving, doctors said Friday.
The Albert Einstein hospital said the 74-year-old Pele remains in an intensive care unit undergoing "temporary" kidney treatment, but is "lucid" and breathing and eating normally without any support.
"Pele's clinical condition has been improving," the hospital said in its latest report.
Pele's personal adviser, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, confirmed Friday that Pele only has one kidney since the time he was a player, but said it was not affecting his treatment. Pele had surgery to remove the kidney back in the 1970s after complications from a broken rib.
"He had the kidney removed a long time ago, his body is already used to it, it's not a problem at all," Rodrigues told The Associated Press.
The Brazilian soccer great had surgery to remove kidney stones on Nov. 13. He was readmitted to the hospital on Monday after being diagnosed with the urinary tract infection.
Doctors continued to administer intravenous kidney treatment, a type of hemodialysis to filter waste particles from his blood.
The hospital's press office would not say if Pele's condition was affected because he has only one kidney.
The hospital said there was no sign of a widespread infection.
"The only (type of) bacteria identified so far is sensitive to the antibiotics being administered," the hospital's statement said, adding that the three-time World Cup champion was not receiving any additional medication to keep him stable.
Pele said on Twitter late Thursday that he was not seriously ill and was "looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays" with his family. Pele's manager, Paul Kemsley, said in a statement that the former player was expected to make a "quick and full" recovery from the "minor infection caused by his recent successful surgery."
Pele was diagnosed with kidney stones after having to cancel an event at his museum in the coastal city of Santos because of abdominal pain. The surgery was successful and he was released from the hospital just a few days after the procedure.
Pele's condition has been closely monitored in Brazil and the rest of the world since the hospital in Sao Paulo said he became unstable and was transferred to an intensive care unit. Although Pele and his staff have been downplaying the seriousness of the illness, local media published many unconfirmed reports about a deterioration of his heath.
Pele has been healthy recently despite needing to undergo surgeries for a hip replacement and a detached retina.
Widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, Pele is a national hero in Brazil and remains a worldwide ambassador to the game. He is active with his many businesses across the globe and still participates in many advertising campaigns. The former Santos and New York Cosmos player is often present at major tournaments.
Pele is known as the game's most prolific scorer, credited with 1,281 goals in 1,363 career matches.
