Brazilian football legend Pele remains in intensive care but is making a satisfactory recovery after undergoing surgery for a suspected colon tumour.

The doctors treating Pele at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said in a statement that he was "actively conversing and displaying vital signs within normal range."

The 80-year-old, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, underwent surgery last week and has been recuperating in an intensive care unit, according to his doctors.

"My friends, with each passing day I feel a little better," Pelé wrote in an Instagram post on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to playing again, but I'm still going to recover for a few more days," he joked.

"While I'm here, I take the opportunity to talk a lot with my family and to rest. Thanks again for all the loving messages. We'll be together again soon!"

The hospital said Pele is expected to be moved from intensive care to a recovery room on Tuesday.

The suspected tumour was detected during routine tests, according to the hospital, where Pele has been undergoing treatment since August 31.

Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time Pele has had mobility issues since undergoing hip surgery in 2012, and has been forced to use walking aids and wheelchairs.

The only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), Pele hit world fame as a precocious 17-year-old with spectacular goals, including two in the final against hosts Sweden, as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time in 1958.

He remains Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 77 goals from 92 matches. He was displaced as the top international scorer in South American history only this week by Lionel Messi.