Pele sends video message to fans from hospital: 'Everybody worries about my health but I'm OK'

The legendary Brazilian striker thanked his well-wishers from his hospital room in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Pele has thanked his fans and well-wishers around the world in a video message from Sao Paulo, Brazil, having spent the last few weeks hospitalised following routine surgery.

The three-time World Cup winner had surgery to remove kidney stones on 13 November, yet he returned to hospital 11 days later after being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection stemming from the operation.

There was cause for concern for Pele's condition when the 74-year-old was transferred to a "special care" unit at the Albert Einstein hospital. The hospital said he was moved from that unit on Saturday.

Pele released a video message on Friday where he reassured his fans about his health, as well as playing the guitar and conversing in both Portuguese and English.

He begins by strumming a guitar while the words "Obrigado" (Thank You) are show on the screen.

He then says, in Portuguese, "I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you from all around the world, who were worried about my health. Thank God I'm fine, recovered.

"I'm here with my family. I know that there were people from everywhere worried about me, but I want to talk even a little bit in English.

"Don't worry, thank you very much. I know everybody worries about my health but I am okay, okay?

"I invite you one more time to come to Brazil, enjoy the Olympic games, we are going to participate in the games together as a proof of my health. Thanks God and thanks everyone who always pray for me."

Doctors said on Friday that Pele showed no more signs of the infection he was admitted for.

Pele won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 career matches.