Messi wins World Cup with Argentina (Sports News) – After 17 years of a spectacular professional football career, including seven Ballon d’Ors and countless club and international trophies, Lionel Messi has finally won the holy grail of football — the FIFA World Cup — with Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. By beating France in a 3-3 goal thriller (4-2 in penalties), the Albiceleste also end 36 years of drought at the tournament, winning it for the third time in history.
ARGENTINA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! 🇦🇷#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Messi wins World Cup – Earlier Defeats with Argentina
Having been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of greatness, the 35-year old Messi has been criticised during his career for coming up short for his country. Despite winning a record 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies for Barcelona, this never translated into success for Argentina. His side suffered a heartbreaking loss in the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, and lost in two consecutive Copa Americas (2015, 2016) to Chile on penalties. These defeats led him to announce his retirement from international football in 2016. Messi eventually came back to participate in the 2018 World Cup, which saw Argentina suffer another tough loss to France, 3-4, in the round of 16.
😘🏆 pic.twitter.com/mBx9zY9uAS
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Messi wins World Cup – Road to Success
International success would finally come three years later, when Messi led the Albiceleste to victory in the 2021 Copa America, beating arch-rivals Brazil 1-0. But on the heels of the win, Messi would exit his longtime club Barcelona, signing with Paris Saint-Germain in its aftermath to team up with 2018 World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and former Barca teammate Neymar. Despite winning the French Ligue 1 with fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino coaching, Messi made it clear that winning the World Cup with his country was his priority.
The dream was finally realised in the 2022 edition in Qatar, wherein the 35-year old and his team shook off a shock 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia in the opener to make it all the way to the final. This included a controversial quarter-final match against the Netherlands, wherein the Oranje battled back from a 0-2 deficit and forced a penalty shootout, not to mention heated exchanges between Messi and Louis Van Gaal, as well as the rest of the squads.
🐐 The GOAT debate is settled. The ultimate prize is now part of the collection. The legacy is complete.
On the day @Argentina won their third #FIFAWorldCup, Leo Messi is your @Budweiser Player of the Match. 🐐
🇦🇷 #ARGFRA 🇫🇷 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud @budfootball pic.twitter.com/4wAQD2pSyt
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Messi wins World Cup – Summary of the Match
Halfway into the first 45 minutes, Argentina got its big break when it was awarded a penalty. Messi converted from the spot, firing Argentina ahead and making him the first man to score at every knockout stage in the World Cup. Minutes later, Angel Di Maria would fire from the left wing to make it 2-0 at the break.
However, late in the second half, France’s Mbappe converted from the spot, then finished on a counter-attack led by Kingsley Coman when he beat Messi to the ball. In extra time, Messi tapped in after Hugo Lloris’ save went his way, but a foul by Gonzalo Montiel on Mbappe allowed the latter to complete a hat-trick and make it 3-3 after 120 minutes.
In the succeeding shootout, controversial Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez forced misses by Coman and Aurelien Tchouameini, even as he got a yellow card for his antics. In contrast, Lloris failed to deny a single penalty, with Montiel’s shot sealing the victory for the Albiceleste for the first time since the Diego Maradona-led side in 1986.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner also won his second Adidas Golden Ball, which is awarded to the best player in the tournament. Messi is only the first to get this distinction. On top of this, the Argentine was also declared the man of the match.
📸🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/RzHopavYJP
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Messi wins World Cup – His Statement
In a statement on social media, Messi expressed his gratitude at finally winning the FIFA World Cup, thanking Argentina and all football fans for their support.
“CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!” exclaims Messi. “So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it… Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim. The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians… We did it!!!”
As for his future plans, the 35-year old star has not considered retiring after winning football’s grandest prize, saying that he will “continue to play a few more games as world champion.”
He’s going nowhere just yet ❌#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 19, 2022
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