Pele is reluctant to leave his house because he's embarrassed about his ill health, according to his son. 

The football legend, now 79, is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. But he has had hip problems for some time and now needs a frame to walk. 

Last year, he was hospitalised with a urinary infection and these problems have led to him apparently becoming 'reclusive,' 'embarrassed' and 'fragile'. 

"He is very sheepish, reclusive," Pele's son Edinho told TV Globo, per BBC Sport.

"Imagine, he's the King, he was always such an imposing figure and today he can't walk properly.

"He's embarrassed, he doesn't want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house.

"He's pretty fragile. He had a hip replacement and didn't have adequate or ideal rehabilitation. So he has this problem with mobility and that has set off a kind of depression.

"He can't walk normally. Only with the walker. It even improved a little compared to that recent time [when he appeared in a wheelchair], but he still has a lot of difficulty walking." 

It's heartbreaking to hear how badly Pele's ill health is affecting him.

Imagine what it's like for someone who was such an iconic athlete to find themselves unable to walk unaided.  

During an incredible 21-year career, the forward scored a world-record total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances, including 77 goals in 91 appearances for Brazil. 

Pele was a three-time World Cup winner and a member of the Selecao's famous team that won the 1970 tournament, which is regarded by many as the greatest of all time. 

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of that team's triumph in Mexico and we just hope that Pele will be healthy enough to celebrate the occasion in a way that he deserves.