Sao Paulo, December 05 (QNA) - Brazil great Pele has sent a message of support from hospital in Sao Paulo to the national team players ahead of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 last 16 clash with South Korea later on Monday.

"In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup," the three-time World Cup winner tweeted.

"Ill be watching the game from hospital and Ill be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!," he added, as he recalled memories of his World Cup debut in 1958, when the 17-year-old helped Brazil lift the Jules Rimet Trophy for their first time in Sweden.

Pele made the headlines over the past days due to grave concerns over his health after the Folha de Sao Paulo paper reported Saturday that the 82-year-old had been transferred to a palliative ward in a local hospital because chemotherapy was no longer bringing results.

His family, however, dismissed speculation that the Brazilian football icon was close to death.

Pele, who had a tumor removed from his colon last year, was last week admitted to the clinic in connection with cancer treatment, and the hospital said he was responding well to treatment.

His family had also dismissed speculation he was in a very serious condition.

They repeated this in an TV interview on Sunday night, with two daughters and a grandson saying he was undergoing respiratory treatment in connection with a coronavirus infection.

"He is ill, he is old. But as soon as he is feeling better he will go home," one of the daughters, Kely Nascimento said.

Her sister, Flavia Nascimento, added that he was in a regular ward and said Pele is not in the intensive care unit, but in palliative care and is not in danger, as he is undergoing treatment.

(QNA)