By Matthew Tabe
Brazilian football legend, Pele said Lionel Messi “deserved” to be a World Cup winner after Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s 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, a three-time World Cup champion, wrote on Instagram.
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Pele also praised French striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final, which ended 3-3 after extra-time, before calmly slotting in a penalty shootout.
“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,” he added.