Brazilian legend Socrates on life-support machine

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 20 August suffering from internal bleeding, and was re-admitted on 6 September with the same problem.

That was a haemorrhage caused by high pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver. He was released 16 days later.

Socrates has acknowledged being a heavy drinker and smoker, even when he starred as a player in the 1980s.

Brazilian sports newspaper Lance!, quoting a hospital statement, last night 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. 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 in Spain, where he played in the 4-1 win over Scotland in Seville in the Group stage.

He also played at the 1986 tournament in Mexico, although he never managed to win football's greatest trophy.

His club career included spells at Botafogo and Corinthians in his homeland, a period with Fiorentina in Italy and then, back in Brazil, Flamengo and Santos. In 2004 he famously came out of retirement at the age of 50 to make a one-off substitute appearance for English non-league side Garforth Town.