With Brazil legend Pele still in hospital after being admitted last week, the former Santos star's family has stated that they are "tired of receiving condolence messages".
Football fans in Brazil and across the globe are concerned about the 82-year-old's health as he continues his fight against cancer.
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When he was hospitalised just over a week ago, doctors confirmed that they were re-evaluating his chemotherapy treatment, which the three-time FIFA World Cup champion has been undergoing since having surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September last year.
The Selecao icon was also diagnosed with a respiratory infection, which was a result a COVID-19 infection he contracted three weeks ago.
"[Pele] is sick, he is elderly, but at this point he is hospitalised for a lung infection," his daughter Kely Arantes Nascimento told Globo.
"And when he gets better, he'll come home.
"We are not saying goodbye in the hospital."
Another one of Pele's daughters, Flavia Arantes Nascimento, has now stated that the family is "tired of receiving condolence messages" as their father was not in intensive care but rather under regular treatment.
"It's really unfair that they're saying he's at the terminal stage," she said.
"It's not that, believe us."
Meanwhile, the sporting icon himself has moved to assure his supporters, via social media, that he is in a stable condition.
"My friends, I want to keep everyone calm and positive. I'm strong, with a lot of hope and I follow my treatment as usual," Pele wrote, according to Vanguard.
"I want to thank the entire medical and nursing team for all the care I have received.
"I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you all over the world keeps me full of energy. And watch Brazil in the World Cup too!
"Thank you so much for everything."
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The Brazil national team paid a heartfelt tribute to the ailing former footballer on Monday night, dedicating their stunning 4-1 round of 16 win over South Korea to him and bringing a large banner with the word "Pele" on it out on to the field after the full-time whistle.
"It's hard to talk about what Pele is going through, but I wish him all the best," Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar said after that match, during which he moved just one goal shy of the legend's all-time goalscoring record (77 goals, according to FIFA) for the South American giants.
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