Fans hold up cutouts of Pele. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Three-time World Cup winner Pele was taken to hospital on Monday with an urinary infection, local media have reported, the second time this month he has been admitted for medical treatment.
The 74-year old former Brazil player was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo but officials there released only a brief statement with no details about his condition.
Widely regarded as the finest player to play the game, he had an operation to remove kidney stones earlier this month.
The Brazilian soccer legendwon three World Cups as a player and was named "Football Player of the Century" by world soccer body FIFA, "Athlete of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee, and a "national treasure" by Brazil's government.
