Pele's spokesman says the Brazilian football legend wants to light the Rio Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Saturday morning (AEST), but poor health may prevent him from accepting the honour, AFP reports.

Doubts over whether Pele, 75, would be free to carry the torch to the cauldron in the Maracana stadium have been cleared up, said spokesman Jose Fornos Rodrigues.

The new question mark is over his health. Pele has undergone several hip operations and walks with a cane.

"Getting free is not a problem now, but he has muscle pain which is affecting his mobility. He has gone to the doctor to see how things are," the spokesman said.

"We still don't know whether he can take part in the lighting of the cauldron, but he's trying."

On Wednesday, Pele told Globo television he had been invited to light the flame by the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.

However, he said he had concerns over existing arrangements.

Pele — real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento — is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

He won three World Cups with Brazil but never competed at the Olympics.