Pele was transferred to an intensive care unit of a Sao Paulo hospital Thursday after a urinary tract infection spread to his kidneys.
The Albert Einstein Hospital said in a statement that the 74-year-old was receiving renal support treatment, adding that there had been "an improvement in his clinical condition."
Pele was admitted to the hospital Monday and initially received antibiotics to treat the infection, Xinhua reported.
Earlier on Thursday, the hospital said the footballer had been shifted to a special care unit suffering "clinical instability."
Pele's personal aide, Pepito, was quoted telling media that the former Santos and New York Cosmos idol was "fine" and would return home "in a few days."
