Argentina's Lionel Messi lisses the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP)Argentina vs France, World Cup 2022 Final Highlights: In probably the wildest final in the tournament’s 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé and Messi took their teams’ first penalties and scored. Kingsley Coman had an attempt saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni then missed for France, giving Gonzalo Montiel the opportunity to end it. He converted the penalty to the left and sparked wild celebrations.
Europe’s run of four straight World Cup winners, dating to 2006, came to an end. The last South American champion was Brazil, and that was also in Asia — when Japan and South Korea hosted the tournament in 2002.
In Qatar, Argentina backed up its victory from last year’s Copa America, its first major trophy since 1993. It’s quite the climax to Messi’s international career, which is not over just yet. He said after the match that he would continue to play with the national team.
Mario Kempes celebrates scoring a goal in the 1978 final, Diego Maradona lifts the World Cup trophy after the 1986 final and Lionel Messi after Argentina's semifinal win against Croatia at Qatar 2022. (FIFA on Twitter/AP)
Former England and Chelsea centreback John Terry compared Sergio Aguero’s celebrations with Argentina after the Latin American side won their 3rd World Cup to his own celebrations with Chelsea after they had won the Champions League against Bayern Munich in 2012. [Read More]
Argentine full-back Nicolas Tagliafico talked about how he and the team felt during the micro convertible ride post the world cup win at the Lusail Stadium. “I felt we would be world champions since we beat Mexico. That day, when we beat them, we told ourselves that we were going to come out first. We became very strong. Post the win, I told my friends that I wanted to know how much I weighed. We came in the micro convertible and I was thinking all the time,” Tagliafico said in the video streamed by the Argentina Football Federation over Twitch. [Read More]
When the hangover of the World Cup ends, it is such moments that would be missed as Qatar reacquaints itself with a life after the World Cup. A boring, tedious life.
Some of the tourists have fallen in love with the country too. For the last fortnight, Mateo Perez from Rosario, has been learning more about Qatar. He landed in Doha in time for Argentina’s round of sixteen game, but the more days he spent in the city the more intrigued was about the city’s culture, cuisine and history. In spare time, he would visit the national museum, library, and soak in the old-world grandeur for Souq Waqif and Msheireb. What was supposed to be a footballing pilgrimage has turned out to be a cultural journey. [Read More]
The night of Sunday never ended. Not for Lionel Messi and friends; not for their fans; not for any football fan, perhaps not for the entire country and the human mass that accumulated here. Even hours after the game was over, the reality of what had unfolded gradually sinking in, the crowd clung on. Some were in the stands, processing the tumult they had seen, some lingering on to celebrate, perhaps to get a glimpse of Messi or Mbappe one last time. [Read More]
Footage of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi celebrating in each other’s faces emerged during the World Cup final at the Lusail stadium in Qatar.
In a clip released on Twitter, it can be seen both superstars pumping fists at each other after scoring in the World Cup final. Argentina led the game thrice and was pulled back to the ground thrice by Kylian Mbappe. After equalising for the third time Mbappe pumped fists looking at Lionel Messi. [Read More]
Luis Suarez has lauded his friend and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi after winning the World Cup final and called him “the best player of all time.”
“Congratulations my friend! Say what they want, you are and will be the best,” Suarez wrote on Instagram.
The former Barcelona teammates also facetimed with each other with Messi can be seen showing Suarez the World Cup. [Read More]
British Journalist Piers Morgan had tweeted backing France to defeat Argentina in the World Cup final and now he’s being brutally trolled.
Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties in the final at the Lusial stadium in Qatar on Sunday. Prior to the game, Morgan predicted a 3-1 France win over Argentina. He tweeted France will beat Argentina 3-1 to win the World Cup. Mbappe will score twice, Griezmann will be MoM and Messi will cry. [Read More]
FIFA has released a video of Argentina’s star Lionel Messi consoling his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe after the World Cup final on Sunday night. Argentina beat France on penalties at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
In the video Messi can be seen hugging Mbappe and Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was also seen shaking the hands with Mbappe. The video captioned Messi ?? Mbappe. [Read More]
Lionel Messi’s wife Antonella Roccuzzo penned down a heartfelt note after Argentina’s World Cup win over France and thanked her husband for teaching the value of “never giving up.”
Messi’s wife Antonella Roccuzzo posted a photo on her Instagram with the caption: “CHAMPIONS! I don’t even know how to start.. pride greater that we feel for you @leomessi thank you for teaching us to never give up, you have to fight to the end.” [Read More]
Newell’s Old Boys released a video of World Cup-winning Argentina captain Lionel Messi in his first-ever interview as a kid.
In the video When the young Lionel Messi was asked about does he know he is selected as the Man Of the Match. He replies with blushed cheeks replied “no”.
Messi was then asked to describe his goal to which he replies “the ball came from Federico Rosso Griggini gave it to Lucas, Lucas gave it to me and I scored it.” [Read More]
What dwells in your memory is subjective. It could be moments of joy, it could be great goals and glorious assists, or a tactical novelty; it could be moments of pain, like the tears of a defeated champion footballer, or the devastation of a team that is knocked out; it could be the vibrant colours the fans have brought, the dance and song, chants and boos. For two weeks, as the world struggles to de-addict from the football-induced intoxication, memories will be all you have to clutch on to. [Read More]
The following is a look at Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s career by numbers:
499 million: Global followers on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram (over 10 times the population of Argentina)
$120 million: Messi’s estimated earnings for the 2022-23 season before taxes and agents’ fees, according to Forbes. [Read More]
Having won three World Cup trophies for Brazil, football legend Pele has congratulated Argentina captain Lionel Messi for winning his first World Cup. The former Brazilian star, who was hospitalised for health issues earlier this month, showered praise on France forward Kylan Mbappe too for scoring four goals (including one in penalty) in the final and termed Mbappe as the future of football.
“Today football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way. 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,” Pele wrote on his Instagram handle. [Read More]
The ball looped towards Kylian Mbappe, 97 seconds after he had kicked in a penalty goal. He had barely touched the ball in live play until that 81st minute. He hadn’t shown any special feel for the ball, as if he were a mere pawn in Messi’s destiny. Now the ball was dipping towards him. It would have been understandable had he taken a touch, steadied himself, and taken aim. [Read More]
Having just starred in the penalty shootout, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper held his Golden Glove trophy to his groin on the presentation podium. He raised eyebrows with Qatari officials standing nearby after he placed the trophy, a giant gold hand, to his groin before emphatically waving it up above his head during the post-match celebrations. (WATCH)
“Obviously, I wanted to complete my career with this, (I) can’t ask for more,” Messi said. “Finishing my career this way is impressive. After this, what else? I have a Copa América, a World Cup. Almost at the very end.
“I love soccer, what I do. I enjoy being part of the national team, the group. I want to enjoy a couple of more matches being a world champion.” (READ)
To have the greatest footballer of this generation and one who will go down in history as the greatest ever clicked wearing a robe which partially hid the Argentine jersey could be called a coup of sorts.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino was also by the side of the Emir as the bisht was draped over Messi. (READ MORE)
Tens of thousands of people descended on the National Flag Memorial, the symbol of Argentina’s third-largest city, to celebrate Argentina’s victory. People started arriving as soon as Messi lifted the international trophy and were still there well into the evening. [Read More]
Lionel Messi on Sunday insisted that he is not retiring from international football after guiding Argentina to the World Cup glory in Qatar. “Obviously, I wanted to complete my career with this, (I) can’t ask for more,” Messi said. “Finishing my career this way is impressive. After this, what else? I have a Copa América, a World Cup. Almost at the very end. “I love soccer, what I do. I enjoy being part of the national team, the group. I want to enjoy a couple of more matches being a world champion.” [Read More]
The man who brought Argentina their third world title in the penalty shootout is known for turning out the hero in such situations. Emiliano Martinez had done so against the Dutch earlier in the tournament, and he had Messi’s affection and gratitude as reward.
On that night against the Netherlands, as the rest of the Argentina team rushed to Lautaro Martinez after their penalty shootout victory in the quarterfinals, Messi ran towards his right. At one end of the Lusail Stadium, Martinez, who had flown to his left and right to deny Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis in the tie-breaker, lay on the ground. By the time Messi went and picked up Martinez, the custodian was already in tears. A total contrast to how he was after making those two saves at the start of the penalty shootout. The cocky, confident goalkeeper, one who doesn’t shy away from being in the ear of the opposition, was in tears as he hugged Messi. (READ MORE)
Argentina were made to suffer before landing their first World Cup title in 36 years, having twice squandered a lead, including in extra-time before edging past defending champions France 4-2 on penalties in the final on Sunday. “It was a game where we suffered,” said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who saved one penalty in the shootout on Sunday but had also saved two more spot kicks in their quarter-final against Netherlands.
On a night of high drama and fluctuating fortunes, Argentina squandered a 2-0 lead in regular time before going back in front in extra-time with Lionel Messi’s second goal. But then Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick to level 3-3 in the 118th minute with France’s second penalty that forced the shootout. (READ MORE)
Lionel Messi was on top of the world and the Argentina locker room table when he celebrated Argentina’s 3rd World Cup victory against France at the Lusail stadium on Sunday, a video shared by teammate Nicolás Otamendi showed.
The whole Argentina camp was in a celebratory mood as Messi entered the locker room with the World Cup trophy in hand and proceeded to climb on top of the table while the whole room erupted with joy. The Argentina captain would soon be joined by Lautaro Martinez as they both danced on top of the table with the trophy. (READ MORE)
As Messi wins the biggest prize that eluded him for his whole career, for many fans, he also settles the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) debate, once and for all. While undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game, the FIFA World Cup trophy-sized hole in his cabinet was often cited as the biggest gap in his career. Not anymore. Like his footballing predecessor, Diego Maradona, Messi has shepherded his football-crazy country to the pinnacle of the world game.
The G.O.A.T debate is football’s most contested conversation, eliciting strong opinions and a lot of disagreement. Often, due to fan loyalties, the debate pushes people to extreme positions, pedestalizing one player while diminishing another. Ultimately, there is no objective metric to compare the “greatness” of players spanning across generations and situations. What is possible to do, however, is to have a conversation that respects footballing context before making an informed opinion. (READ MORE)
After 28 days and 63 games — the 64th would roll out this evening — the shutters of the Qatar World Cup would roll down, leaving us with memories of the first-ever edition in the Middle East.
What dwells in your memory is subjective. It could be moments of joy, it could be great goals and glorious assists, or a tactical novelty; it could be moments of pain, like the tears of a defeated champion footballer, or the devastation of a team that is knocked out; it could be the vibrant colours the fans have brought, the dance and song, chants and boos. For two weeks, as the world struggles to de-addict from the football-induced intoxication, memories will be all you have to clutch on to. This tournament produced everything and more. Great goals there were many, masterpieces of technical perfection to pulse-setting ones, to scrappy and deflected ones. (READ MORE)
Lionel Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete. The Argentina superstar is finally a World Cup champion.Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. (READ MORE REACTIONS)
Lionel Messi has finally won the big one. The Argentine magician got his hands on the elusive World Cup and engraved himself in football folklore after defeating France 4-2 on penalties at the Lusail Stadium.
After the match was done, Messi shared a tender moment with his mother as both embraced in the middle of the ground amidst the explosion of celebration going on around them. (READ MORE)
Lionel Messi was on top of the world and the Argentina locker room table when he celebrated Argentina’s 3rd World Cup victory against France at the Lusail stadium on Sunday, a video shared by teammate Nicolás Otamendi showed. (Read more)
Messi won the World Cup because it was his true love. He tried, he waited, he cried, he fought, and finally it was his. For Messi, this might have not been about matching Diego Maradona or surpassing him, or ending the greatest-of-his-time debate with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Winning the World Cup meant a whole life to Messi — his pulse, his purpose, his true love [Read more]
On Sunday, Argentina's heroes were several. Messi, of course, with his double, the perfect end to the career of the perfect footballer.
Read more - Messi 10: Perfect end to the career of the perfect footballer
Didier Deschamps: "The squad have been facing a tricky situation for a while and that could have affected them. We just didn't show the energy for an hour."
"I said before the match that Argentina had been lucky. I'm not saying they were helped. I just want to say congratulations."
Lionel Messi: “It’s simply unbelievable. I knew that God was going to give me the Cup, I was sure — it was a big joy for us. I had this big dream since long time, I wanted to close my career with World Cup. I can’t ask more than this”.
Ruud Gullit: " Greatest of all time? No. But Messi has now joined Maradona and Pele."
Rodrigo De Paul: "We were born to suffer, we are going to suffer all our lives, but I am not going to forget this anymore. I think we are fair winners. To be champions we had to beat the last champion and we did it This is a joy that I cannot explain."
Leandro Paredes: "There are no words for this. Not even in my best dream did I think of it. We have to enjoy it. I thought of my whole family, of all the way I have come, of my wife, of my parents, of those who are cheering in heaven, of those who accompanied us throughout the whole cycle."
Lionel Scaloni: "I am proud. I'm less excited than other days but today I'm liberated. This team just makes me proud, it's all theirs. I want to tell people to enjoy because this is a historic moment."
What a moment!
Just after Lionel Messi collects his player of the tournament award, the trophy he had won back in 2014 as well, he stops before going off stage. Leaps to his right and kisses the trophy he couldn't on that night in Maracana. The only trophy that has mattered to him. The World Cup.
Guess who? GUESS WHO!
For the second time in his career, a World Cup player of the tournament. Six goals and three assists and so much more.
Stand up and applaud. Kylian Mbappe with seven goals in seven games. A hattrick of a century in the World Cup final. First infact, of the 21st century.
Argentina's Emiliano Martinez wins the golden hand. Just on the big night, he made a nerve breaking save at the end of extra time and kept a crucial penalty from Kingsley Coman away to help Argentina with a 4-2 win on penalties. We need a book for his in tournament contributions, forget a blog entry.
Argentina's Enzo Fernandes is the young player of the tournament and what a find he has been. Not just for Argentina but world football. Clubs, get them big bucks ready.
You. Yes, you. Whoever you are. Wherever you are. Do yourselves a favor. Tune in to the television or any screen that is showing these sacred scenes from the Lusail Stadium at Doha. A 35-year-old is living the time of his life. With him a nation is. With him a world is. You may/may not know him (I won't believe if you don't). But just for the sake of one of the most wholesome experiences of your life, tune in. TUNE IN and breathe.
The 23-year-old broke another record as he became the first player to score a hattrick at the World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966 against Germany at Wembley.