RIO DE JANEIRO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Football great Pele has been readmitted to hospital less than three months after undergoing prostate surgery.

The 74-year-old is being treated for a trapped nerve in his back at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital, local media reported on Saturday.

He had surgery on Friday and is expected to be released on Sunday, according to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

The three-time World Cup winner, considered by many as the greatest ever footballer, has suffered a series of health problems in recent years.

In addition to prostate surgery, Pele was hospitalized with a urinary infection in November after having kidney stones removed.

In 2004, he underwent emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and in 2012 he had a hip replacement.