Pelé will auction autographed items for noble cause 0:51
(CNN) -
Brazilian soccer star Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, announced Monday that on Saturday he underwent surgery to remove a “suspicious lesion” in his right colon.
On his official Facebook account, the former player said that the tumor was identified during tests last week.
“Fortunately, I am used to celebrating great victories alongside you.
I am going to face this match with a smile on my face, a lot of optimism and joy for living surrounded by the love of my family and my friends, ”he said.
Pelé turns 80: 10 stories about the "king" of football
Pelé also thanked God for feeling “very good” and for allowing doctors Fabio Narsi and Miguel Cendoroglo Neto, from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, to take care of his health.
The hospital confirmed in a statement the finding of the suspicious injury and said that Pele is recovering in the intensive care unit, with the anticipation of transferring him to a normal room on Tuesday.
Pele