Paris: Brazilian soccer great Pele was hospitalised here with a strong fever but his condition is not life-threatening and he should be released ‘within a couple of days’, one of his long-time friends Pepito Fornos informed Wednesday. He informed that the 78-year-old was suffering from a urinary infection and being treated with antibiotics. “Everything is under control. Everything’s fine.”
Pele was admitted to the hospital late Tuesday as a precaution after attending an event in the French capital with France’s World Cup winning youngster Kylian Mbappe. He was still in hospital Wednesday evening, though in a possible sign he was making a recovery, Pele said on Twitter: “I met Kylian Mbappe and his parents last night in Paris at @Hublot event. We talked goals, World Cups and watches. Great company!”
Earlier, Mbappe had written on social media: “I had the chance this evening to spend a once-in-a-lifetime moment with the living legend @Pele.”
Pele is revered by many as soccer’s greatest player ever. Out of the three World Cup titles he won, the first came when he was 17. The Brazilian was swift to praise Mbappe after he set last year’s World Cup in Russia alight with his electric speed and goalscoring. Mbappe became the youngest player (19) to score two goals in a World Cup game since Pele in 1958. He also became the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final.
“If Kylian keeps equalling my records like this I may have to dust my boots off again,” Pele had tweeted at the time. Mbappe replied: “The King will always remain King.”
Mbappe and Pele had been scheduled to meet late last year but had to postpone, again because of Pele’s health, French media said.
Reuters