Pele Breaks Silence On Health Issues

After recent comments by Pele's son, who had stated that the football legend is embarrassed to leave his house, shocked the football world, the Brazilian icon has now commented on his health issues for the first time.

Read: Pele's Son: My Dad Is Too Embarrassed To Leave The House

The 79-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, but age is slowly catching up with him.

He had prostate cancer surgery in 2015, and was taken to hospital with a urinary infection last year.

At times, he makes appearances at public events in a wheelchair, and his son Edinho claimed earlier this week that his father is "pretty fragile".

Pele, though, has now insisted his health issues are normal for people his age.

"I am good. I continue to accept my physical limitations in the best way possible but I intend to keep the ball rolling," he said in a statement, as quoted by the BBC.

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"I am not avoiding fulfilling the commitments in my always busy schedule.

"I have good days and bad days. That is normal for people of my age. I am not afraid, I am determined, confident in what I do."

Friends of the legendary striker have revealed that January was one of his busiest months in years, with Pele doing photo shoots and sponsorship work, while also co-operating with a British director for a documentary about his footballing life.

Click through the gallery below to see where Pele ranks among the leading goalscorers in history (official goals):

He can look back at a glittering career, during which he scored 1 281 goals in 1 363 appearances, including 77 goals in 91 games for Brazil, during which he helped the Selecao lift three FIFA World Cups.