Pelé, who was hospitalized this week amid ongoing cancer treatments, "has had a good response to treatment with no worsening of the clinical picture in the last 24 hours," doctors at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo said in a statement, according to news agency AFP.

Even Pelé himself believes that his current state of health is stable.

“My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive.

I am strong, have a lot of hope and I follow my treatment as usual.

I want to thank the entire medical team, and the care team, for all the care I have received," he writes on Instagram and continues:

“I have a lot of faith in God, and every message of love I receive from you, around the world, keeps me full of energy.

And (I'm) watching Brazil in the World Cup too!”

Being treated for a respiratory infection

The 82-year-old Pelé was hospitalized in São Paulo earlier this week.

Doctors confirmed on Friday that Pelé is being treated for a respiratory infection.

In December last year, Pelé was hospitalized for treatment of an intestinal tumor.

Has won three WC golds

Two months earlier, a tumor was removed from the right part of the colon, and he was hospitalized for almost a month.

Pelé is considered by many to be the best soccer player of all time, he won World Cup gold in 1958, 1962 and 1970, among other things.

ARCHIVE: Pelé's breakthrough in Sweden:

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A star is born - Pelé's breakthrough in Sweden