Pelé: Brazilian soccer legend out of hospital in time for Christmas

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has been hospitalized for chemotherapy treatment of a colon tumor Wednesday, a spokesperson at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital confirmed to CNN.

"The photo of me smiling is not in vain. As promised, I'm going to spend Christmas with my family. I'm going back home. Thank you for all the thoughtful messages," he said on his official twitter account.

Pelé, 81, was hospitalized on December 8 for chemotherapy treatment of a colon tumor, a spokesperson at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital confirmed to CNN then.