Pele improving but still on dialysis - hospital

Brazil football legend Pele's health is improving but he is still receiving an intensive treatment known as hemodialysis for a urinary infection, the hospital treating him said Friday.

Pele, 74, "is in better clinical condition," said the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, adding that he was "lucid" and breathing on his own but still receiving hemodialysis, which involves filtering a patient's blood through an artificial kidney that cleans it before returning it to the body.

The hospital said the treatment was a "temporary kidney support."

Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.

After the hospital said Thursday that he had been placed in intensive care, he took to Facebook and Twitter to insist that he was fine and had simply been moved to another room for more privacy.

"I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine," he wrote.

"I am blessed to receive your love and support, and thank God this is nothing serious."

Pele was admitted to hospital Monday.

He underwent surgery for kidney stones on November 13 and appeared to be in good humor when he was released two days later, joking with journalists: "I am ready to play tomorrow."