Pele in better clinical condition

  The 74-year-old “is in better clinical condition,” said the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. The hospital added 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 has been hospitalized since Monday because of a urinary infection. He had surgery to remove kidney stones on November 13.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pele, helped Brazil win three of its five World Cups.

A legally declared national treasure in Brazil, Pele was voted ‘Athlete of the Century’ in 1999 by the world’s national Olympic committees for his accomplishments in and contributions to soccer.