The daughter of legendary Brazilian striker Pele, Kely Nascimento, said that the "king's" wish was for Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Lionel Messi.
He knew any team could win, and that's why he loved this beautiful game. After Brazil's exit, everyone who walked into his room would say, 'How are you, Pele? How are you? Not Argentina!" He replied, "Argentina must win! The Cup should go to South America, and Messi deserved it." He could no longer watch TV during the final, but he realized that Argentina had won and Messi had managed to lift the cup. Pele was happy. Viva football!
Argentina became the world champion on December 18, 2022, after defeating France in the final of the World Cup (3-3 in regulation time and 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out). Two goals in that meeting were scored by Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old forward, who subsequently became the best player of the tournament.
Pele died at 83 year of life on December 29, 2022 after a long treatment for colon cancer. The Brazilian was previously recognized as the best football player of the 20th century by FIFA, World Soccer and France Football, as well as the best athlete of the last century by the IOC. He is the only three-time world champion as a football player on the planet (1958, 1962, 1970).
