Doha: Before handing out the crown, Argentina captain Lionel Messi kissed the world crown placed on the stage as he took the stage to receive the Ballon d’Or. This moment is testament to how much he longed for the title that had eluded him throughout his 16-year career. The player participated in the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, but the Blues failed to win the title. The 35-year-old Messi has now announced that he will not participate in the next World Cup. So this time Messi and his teammates came out to win the world title. The actor led from the front with a great performance. Messi scored seven goals at the Qatar World Cup, including two in the final.
Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or as the best player of the World Cup while Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot award for the player with the most goals. The player scored eight goals including a hat-trick in the final. But the Argentine captain scored seven goals. Enzo Fernandez is the best young player of the World Cup. The Golden Glove for best goalkeeper went to Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Messi and Mbappe were in contention for the Golden Boot with five goals before the final. But Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final, surpassed Messi. But Messi has more assists than Mbappé. If the goals were level they would have counted.
After 60 years, the French managed to win consecutive World Cups. But their dream has not blossomed. This is Argentina’s third title. The Blue Army won the World Cup twice before this in 1978 and 1986. Messi and his team lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. The loss was by one goal.
Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps became the sixth manager to lead a team to multiple World Cup finals with this final. In the past, only one of the managers who have led teams to multiple finals has managed to achieve success. Italy won the 1934 and 1938 World Cups under the guidance of the legendary Vittorio Pozzo. But Deschamps could not add his name to this record.
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick and Lionel Messi steered the lead with a brace as Argentina finally emerged victorious in a death-defying final. After a 3-3 draw in the first two half and extra time, Messi won the title in a penalty shootout. While four Argentine players scored in the shootout, only two from the French team could see the target. Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Paredes, Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi have scored for the Blue Army. Both Kolo Muani and Mbappé scored for France. But Xhuameni and Koeman missed the opportunity.
France made a comeback under Mbappé against Argentina, who led with two goals in the first half. Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi were the first to give the Blue Army the lead. Mbappé scored from a penalty in the 80th minute and a good move in the 81st minute. But in the 108th minute Messi brought out his form. Lautaro Martinez’s shot was blocked by Lloris in front of Messi. With this, Messi hit the goal post. The ball was blocked by Upamecano but crossed the goal line. But Mbappe didn’t give the Argentine a chance to console himself. In the 118th minute, the talented player once again shook the opponents with a penalty. With this, the game was tied at 3-3 and went to penalties.
Argentina took their first lead with a 23rd-minute penalty. Messi scored a penalty after Ousmane Dembele brought down Angel Di Maria in the 20th minute. Then the second goal was scored in the 36th minute. The goal was assisted by McAllister. In the 45th minute, Lloris thwarted Argentina’s chance on the French post. The progress of Mbappé and Kamavinka in the 95th minute and Messi’s goal in the 96th minute failed. Messi’s shot was blocked by Lloris while France’s advance was blocked by the Argentine defence.
Team lineups were released earlier. Angel Di Maria is back in the Argentine lineup. Adrien Rubio and Upamecano also played for the French national team. In the 16th minute Di Maria’s pass to Messi was hit at the opposite post. Superstar Lionel Messi became the most capped player at the World Cup after Argentina played in the final against France. The player played his 26th match today.
Messi kisses the FIFA World Cup trophy
