Brazilian football legend Pele has been battling cancer (AFP via Getty)

Brazil legend Pele has been taken to hospital with swelling and heart failure.

The three-time World Cup winner, who turned 82 last month, has been in and out of hospital over the last year after having a tumor removed from his colon in September 2021.

According to ESPN Brasil, Pele was taken to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo by his wife Marcia Aoki on Tuesday.

It’s understood that Pele is suffering from major swelling all over his body and ‘decompensated heart failure’.

The report also claims that doctors have grown concerned as Pele has not responded to chemotherapy treatment.

Pele turned 82 last month (Instagram)

Pele with his wife Marcia Aoki (Instagram)

One of Pele’s daughters, Kely Nascimento, wrote on Instagram on Wednesday: ‘Hi my friends. Lots of alarm in the media today concerning my dad’s health.

‘He is in the hospital regulating medication. Some of my siblings are visiting Brazil. There is no emergency or dire prediction. I will be there for New Years and promise to post some pictures.

‘Really and truly, we appreciate the concern and love!!’

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