Pelé has asked PSG and Brazil forward Neymar not to quit international football.

Pelé, who is suffering from cancer, is reportedly responding well to hospital treatment for a lung infection picked up at the end of November. From a Sao Paulo hospital, Pelé wrote on social media:

“Your legacy is far from complete. Continue to inspire us all and I will continue to applaud you for every goal you score, as I did in every game I’ve seen you on the pitch. Congratulations for having equalled my number of goals. However, you know, as I do, that no number is as great as the joy of representing our country.”

La Nacion in Argentina have reported that CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, have suggested that Brazil change three of the five stars above the national team’s badge to hearts as a sign of respect for Pelé.

CONMEBOL president, Alejandro Domínguez, a Paraguayan official, has suggested that Brazil make the change to signify Pelé’s involvement in the nation’s trio of World Cup wins in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Domínguez said: “As CONMEBOL we propose to the CBF, so that Pelé always lives on in the hearts of all of us who love football, that Brazil swap three of their stars for three hearts. So that everyone knows, although he was not the only architect of those three World Championships because football is a team sport, that he gave birth to ‘Jogo Bonito’”.