"Certainly Diego is smiling now", Pele reacts to Argentina's World Cup win
Brazil legend Pele pays tribute to Argentina and Lionel Messi, after their World Cup final victory against France.
Argentina beat France on penalties to win the World Cup after 36 years at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on Sunday.
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria scored for Argentina in the first half but two Kylian Mbappe goals saw France pull level and force extra times. Messi put Argentina ahead in extra time before Mbappe completed his hat trick from the penalty spot.
Pele who is currently in the hospital said Argentina's victory would have delighted the late Diego Maradona. Maradona who won the World Cup in 1986 died in 2020 at the age of 60.
"Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now,"
Pele who has won three World Cups wrote on Instagram.
"Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way,"
Pele said.
"Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved.”
Kylian Mbappe scored three goals for France in this game to become the only second man after Geoff Hurst who has scored a hat-trick in a men's World Cup final. Mbappe who scored one goal in the last final also became the first player to score four goals in the World Cup finals following his hat-trick against Argentina.
"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.
"And I couldn't fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It's great to see Africa shine."
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