Brazilian football icon Pele will remain in hospital over Christmas after a medical report showed that his cancer has advanced.

Doctors say he now needs care for cardiac and renal dysfunction.

Pele, 82, has been battling colon cancer since September 2021 and was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paul hospital on 29 November for doctors to re-evaluate his treatment.

His daughter said in an Instagram post that the support of his fans was a “huge comfort” to him.

Kely Nascimento wrote: “Your love for him, your stories and your prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone.

“Let’s turn this room into a Sambadrome (just kidding), let’s even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!).”

Relatives said at the beginning of December that Pele was in hospital for treatment of a respiratory infection aggravated by COVID-19.

Pele, whose name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021 and has since been in and out of hospital for treatment on a regular basis.

The football legend has been undergoing chemotherapy in his fight against cancer.

Pele is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

He burst on to the global scene as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup, helping Brazil to the first of their record five successes.

He also won the 1962 and 1970 World Cups with the national side.

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