Pele on CNN's Talk Asia

An old favorite returns even if only for a few minutes. Football great Pele will be featured in this week’s CNN Talk Asia where CNN’s Anna Coren caught up with the legend in Hong Kong and discussed the revival of the New York Cosmos, his thoughts on the 2014 World Cup being held in his home country, and the state of the game today.

During the interview, Pele described how important the 2014 World Cup is to Brazil. “It is important to give back what they give to us, and give back well.” However he expressed concern about the pace of the country’s preparations for the tournament. “For example in San Paulo, the state of San Paulo is the best, strong tournament here, the league tournament. We haven’t started yet (to build) the stadium. This, I think, is a little bad for the reputation of Brazil and for the reputation of (those) who worked for Brazil, like I did. That’s my worry.”

FIFA recently awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar - selections that have drawn criticism in some circles. Pele declined to comment on the decisions, because he didn’t participate in the voting process, but he hopes both countries will host successful tournaments. “Russia is traditional in soccer. Qatar is not traditional, but they have a lot of money. I don’t know if they could avoid doing the World Cup in June or July. It’s very hot there.”

Although the 70-year-old has long since hung up his goal-scoring boots, he's still a global ambassador for the game. He says that soccer is a game that can unite people. “It will always be the beautiful game, no doubt. The only sport, the only thing, that puts people together no matter if they’re black. No nation. No colour. No religion. No political decision.”

A true record-breaker, Pele is the only player with three World Cup titles to his name and scored 1,281 goals in his professional career. He recalls the moment in 1969 when he scored his 1000th goal. “Everybody thinks a penalty kick is easy to score, but it is not too easy. It is very difficult when you have a responsibility…The friend of mine is a comic guy in Brazil. He says God stops the game because everyone has to see your 1000th goal. That is the reason it was a penalty kick.”

He also shared his views on how million-dollar salaries and endorsements have changed the state of the game today and his thoughts on who he thinks is the best soccer player in the world today. So who do you think it is -- Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Figure it's the former.