- Messi won World Cup with Argentina
- Pele posted congratulatory message
- Expressed sympathy for Mbappe
WHAT HAPPENED? After Messi helped fire the South American side to a penalty shootout win against France, the former Selecao star took to Instagram to heap praise on the hero of the tournament. Pele said that the late Argentina legend Diego Maradona would be proud of his country's achievements and he also had a sympathetic message for France talisman Kylian Mbappe, who became only the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and also netted from 12 yards in the shootout.
WHAT THEY SAID: "Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way," Pele wrote on Instagram. "Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved. 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. Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Mbappe and Pele have developed a bond in recent months. During the competition, Mbappe broke Pele's record as the youngest player to score nine goals in the tournament. Afterwards, the Brazilian congratulated him and said he was happy that he took his record.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & MBAPPE? The attackers will be back on the same team soon when they return to Paris Saint-Germain to resume the Ligue 1 campaign. Their first game back is against Strasbourg on December 28.