"The tumor was identified during the tests I mentioned last week" Pele said in a social media post SAO PAULO: Former Brazil soccer great Pele underwent surgery on Saturday to remove a tumor in his colon, according to a social media post on Monday by the sports legend, who has been in hospital for six days. “Last Saturday I underwent surgery to remove a suspicious lesion in the right colon,” the posting said. “The tumor was identified during the tests I mentioned last week.”