The daughter of three-time World Cup winner Pele says he will be moved out of intensive care in the next day or two after an operation to remove a tumour from his colon.

The Brazil legend is being treated at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo after tests revealed Pele had a "suspicious lesion".

The 80-year-old's daughter Kely Nascimento said her father was "doing well" and "is not in pain" in a post on Instagram.

"He is doing well post surgery, he is not in pain and is in a good mood (annoyed that he can only eat jello but will persevere!)," Nascimento said on Instagram.

"He will move into a regular room in the next day or two and then go home.

"He is strong and stubborn and with the support and care of the brilliant team at Einstein and all of the love, energy and light that the world is sending, he will get through this!"

Pele's son revealed last year that his father had become "embarrassed" to leave his house because he cannot walk unaided due to mobility problems since a failed hip replacement surgery in 2012.

Pele is Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 77 international goals and won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.