Edison Arantes do Nascimento, the three-time soccer World Cup winner known as Pele, had to undergo surgery today in Sao Paulo after going for a routine medical check, according to newspaper O Globo’s website.

Pele, 72, who was chosen as one of the two best players of all time in a 2000 survey organized by world soccer governing body FIFA, had hip surgery and will be released from hospital tomorrow, the website said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rodrigo Orihuela in Rio de Janeiro at rorihuela@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Attwood at jattwood3@bloomberg.net