Pele, 74, undergoes back surgery

Pele, considered the greatest soccer player of all-time, underwent back surgery earlier this week at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his postoperative recovery was reported as satisfactory.

The hospital said the "previously scheduled" surgery for nerve root decompression was performed on Tuesday.

The statement did not say when 74-year-old Pele is expected to be discharged from the hospital, but news reports indicated it would be sometime in the coming week.

Paul Kemsley, Pele's manager, said in an email to The Associated Press that Pele "underwent elective surgery to fix discomfort in his back and hip. This is the first of two corrective procedures which will be done in Brazil over the next few months to ensure Pele is strong and healthy for the Rio Olympics (next year) and all of its related travel. Perhaps he'll even play!"

Pele, whose given name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for Santos of Brazil (1956-74), the New York Cosmos (1975-77) and the Brazilian National Team, which he helped win the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.