Rio de Janeiro, May 8: Football legend Pele is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery to his prostate gland, according to a medical statement.

The 74-year-old underwent a procedure to treat hyperplasia, a condition that enlarges organs through cell proliferation, Xinhua reported.

He remains in a stable condition at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital.

The hospital statement said doctors had performed a transurethral resection of the prostate, an operation that involves cutting away a section of the gland.

It is the second time in less than six months that Pele has been hospitalised.

The three-time World Cup winner was treated for a urinary infection in November after having kidney stones removed.

IANS