Report: Socrates critical in hospital

Brazil legend Socrates has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition and placed on life-support, according to reports.

It is the third time the former Brazilian national team captain has been rushed to hospital in recent months, having first fallen ill in the summer.

The 57-year-old was admitted to Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital on August 20 suffering from internal bleeding, and was re-admitted on September 6 with the same problem. He was released 16 days later.

Brazilian sports newspaper Lance!, quoting a hospital statement, today confirmed Socrates had been returned to intensive care suffering from “a generalised infection in the body, caused by the existence of bacteria in the bloodstream”.

The hospital say Socrates is suffering from septic shock as a result of the infection. He has undergone dialysis treatment and is breathing with the help of a ventilator, and his condition is considered critical.

Speaking after his initial hospitalisation in August, the former midfield great revealed his ill-health was the result of alcohol abuse.

Socrates is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, a cultured midfielder who won 60 caps for the Brazil national side, scoring 22 goals.

He captained the Selecao at the 1982 World Cup and also played at the 1986 tournament in Mexico, although never managed to win football’s biggest prize.

His club career included spells at Botafogo, Corinthians, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos, while in 2004 he famously came out of retirement at the age of 50 to make a one-off substitute appearance for English lower-league side Garforth Town.