Sao Paulo: Brazilian football legend Pele on Sunday congratulated Argentinian skipper Lionel Messi over World Cup victory and said he deserved it.

Pele is currently undergoing treatment for a respiratory infection.

He posted on Instagram: " Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way. Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved."

He also congratulated Mbappe of France for scoring four goals in the final match.

He said: "My dear friend, Mbappé, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport."

Pele also praised the Moroccan team for its strong performance in the World Cup.

Morocco finished fourth in the tournament.

"And I couldn't fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It's great to see Africa shine," he said.

In his congratulatory post, he also mentioned Diego Maradona and said: "Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now."

Argentina defeated France by 4-2 margin in a dramatic penalty shootout to lift the title. Both the teams were tied at 3-3 after the completion of regular and extra time.