Pele was taken into intensive care in Sao Paulo on Wednesday after initially being admitted to hospital on Monday with a urinary tract infection.

The 74-year-old was released from the same hospital earlier this month after successful surgery to remove kidney stones.

Pele is a three-time World Cup winner and widely considered one of the two or three best footballers of all-time.

Pele's spokesman, however, said that his condition has been stable and that he was moved into a special area due to an influx of visitors.