(CNN) -- He may be a long way from the football field, but Pele at least is back to talking and getting better at a Sao Paulo, Brazil, hospital. 

The city's Albert Einstein Hospital issued a statement Saturday saying the football legend -- born Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- was improving but still in intensive care battling an illness. 

Pele is lucid, talking and responding to antibiotics, the hospital said. He remains on temporary dialysis, which was a reason he was moved to the ICU in the first place, because the machine he needed was there. 

The hospital issued a second statement later Saturday, indicating that Pele continues to recover and that doctors plan to take him off dialysis early Sunday. 

Earlier this week, the 74-year-old was admitted to the medical facility -- the same place he recently underwent surgery to remove kidney stones -- for a urinary tract infection. 

The athletic icon had one kidney removed during this days as a player, his aide, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told CNN. 

Pele tweeted Thursday that he was looking forward to spending the holidays with family and starting "the new year with renewed health, with many international trips planned." 

"I am blessed to receive your love and support," Pele said, "and thank God this is nothing serious." 

Known as "The Black Pearl" and simply "The King," Pele is one of the best known names in all of sports. 

He burst onto the scene as a teenager, helping lead his native Brazil to the 1958 World Cup championship. Pele went on to star on two other World Cup title teams as well, in 1962 and 1970, in addition to a breakthrough career with the Brazilian club Santos and later with the New York Cosmos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League. 
What was Pele's name at the time of his birth?
How old is he?
Did he undergo surgery?
To take out what?
What kind of infection did he have?
What is Pele's aide's name?
What news outlet did Jose speak with?
Does Pele have a nickname?
What is it?
What other moniker was he known by?
What country is the hospital located in that Pele stayed at?
What city?
What is the name of the hospital?
On what day did they issue a statement?
When was Pele to be taken off dialysis?
Did he spend time in ICU?
What was there that he was in need of?
On what day of the week did Pele tweet?
What team in New York was he associated with?
What league was that team in?
Edson Arantes do Nascimento
the football legend -- born Edson Arantes do Nascimento
74-year-old
Earlier this week, the 74-year-old was admitted to the medical facility
Yes
Earlier this week, the 74-year-old was admitted to the medical facility -- the same place he recently underwent surgery to remove kidney stones
Kidney stones
Earlier this week, the 74-year-old was admitted to the medical facility -- the same place he recently underwent surgery to remove kidney stones
A urinary tract infection.
nderwent surgery to remove kidney stones -- for a urinary tract infection. 
Jose Fornos Rodrigues
The athletic icon had one kidney removed during this days as a player, his aide, Jose Fornos Rodrigues
CNN
The athletic icon had one kidney removed during this days as a player, his aide, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told CNN
Yes
Known as "The Black Pearl" and simply "The King,"
The King
Known as "The Black Pearl" and simply "The King,"
The Black Pearl
Known as "The Black Pearl" and simply "The King,"
Brazil
He may be a long way from the football field, but Pele at least is back to talking and getting better at a Sao Paulo, Brazil, hospital
Sao Paulo
He may be a long way from the football field, but Pele at least is back to talking and getting better at a Sao Paulo, Brazil, hospital.
Albert Einstein Hospital
The city's Albert Einstein Hospital 
Saturday
The city's Albert Einstein Hospital issued a statement Saturday
Early Sunday.
The hospital issued a second statement later Saturday, indicating that Pele continues to recover and that doctors plan to take him off dialysis early Sunday.
Yes
which was a reason he was moved to the ICU in the first place, because the machine he needed was there
Dialysis machine
 He remains on temporary dialysis, which was a reason he was moved to the ICU in the first place, because the machine he needed was there
Thursday
Pele tweeted Thursday
The New York Cosmos
 and later with the New York Cosmos
North American Soccer League
 New York Cosmos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League