Brazilian football icon Pele who has been following the Qatar World Cup from his hospital bed said Lionel Messi deserved to win the FIFA World Cup.
Pele said Lionel Messi deserved to be a World Cup winner after Argentina conquered France in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s World Cup final.
Lionel Messi netted twice in the final, taking his goal tally at the tournament to seven, and also scored in the shoot-out as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time.
Pele, a three-time World Cup hero, wrote on his Instagram after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final: “Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way. Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved.”
Pele also lauded French and PSG super striker Kylian Mbappe who scored a hat-trick in the final match which ended 3-3 after extra-time before Argentina won via penalty shootout.
Kylian Mbappe eventually won the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one ahead of the Argentine captain, Messi. The 23-year-old striker also scored a goal during the penalty shootout.
On Mbappe, Pele said: “My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.”
The Brazilian legend Pele also congratulated the Morocco team for becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-final.
Pele concluded his message with a reference to the late Argentine football icon Diego Maradona.
Pele wrote: “And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It’s great to see Africa shine. Congratulations Argentina! Certainly, Diego is smiling now.”
The Brazilian football legend Pelé is, however, responding well to treatment after having been hospitalized to treat a respiratory infection worsened by COVID-19.
Doctors at the Albert Einstein hospital confirmed that the Brazilian legendary forward is not likely to die as he is doing well.
The great Pelé has been hospitalized since November 29 and doctors said they still don’t know when he will be discharged from the hospital.
The 82-year-old Brazilian World Cup and football icon Pele has been struggling with colon cancer for some time now.
And he was shortly diagnosed with a respiratory infection that left the football world worrying about his health condition.
But according to a statement from Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital, Pele is now “conscious and stable”.
It remains unpredictable as to when Pele will be able to leave the hospital and return home.
However, the latest update about his health from the Sao Paulo-based hospital remains positive.
The doctors treating Pele said: “The patient continues to show improvement in the clinical status, in particular the respiratory infection.”
“He remains in a regular room, is conscious, and with stable vital signs.”
“After a medical evaluation, the patient was taken to a common room, without the need for hospitalization in a semi-intensive unit or ICU.
“The former player has full control of vital functions and stable clinical condition.”
