Pele pulled out of an appearance at an event scheduled for Sunday, hosted by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA), who, in a press release, stated he had “collapsed and was taken to hospital” due to severe exhaustion.
Those claims were swiftly rebutted by one of the 77-year-old’s advisors.
Three-time World Cup winner Pele revealed he has been struggling with a hip issue which arose after his first operation on the joint.
“Thanks to God, I’m fine now,” he said in an interview with TV Globo.
“I have no pain. I am already starting to train. The operations I had on the ligaments, on the hip, and even on the back, were on the right side.
“Because I put all the effort on the left side, I started to have problems with the ligament of my left leg.”
Asked if he was going to be selected for Brazil duty, Pele jokingly responded: “I don’t know, now you are speaking more seriously.
“I don’t know if Tite will select me. But I’ll be ready for the next World Cup, God willing.”
