Brazilian soccer legend Pele's health has continued to deteriorate. "He is showing a progression of the cancer and needs more intensive care due to kidney and heart problems," quoted the news portal G1 on Wednesday (local time) from a medical report from the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo. But Pelé is not in the intensive care unit, it said.

Pelé has been in the hospital since November 29 to readjust his chemotherapy for a colon tumor. According to media reports, the chemotherapy had recently stopped working for the 82-year-old.

His daughter Kely Nascimento announced that she would spend Christmas with her father in the hospital. "We're going to turn this room into a sambodrome (just kidding), we're even going to make caipirinhas (no kidding)," she wrote on Instagram.

In September last year, Pelé had a tumor removed from his colon that doctors discovered during a routine examination. After the operation, Pelé was initially treated in the intensive care unit. He had to stay in the hospital for about a month after the operation. After that, Pelé was repeatedly in the hospital for chemotherapy.

Pelé's health has repeatedly raised concerns in recent years. He underwent several hip surgeries. He also had problems with his spine and knees. Two years ago he had a kidney stone removed after a urinary tract infection. Pelé played 92 international matches and won three World Cup titles with Brazil's national team (1958, 1962, 1970).