It’s been 2 years and on this day in 2022, the photo of Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup trophy for Argentina still seems like yesterday. This could be the last picture of Messi at the World Cup in Qatar, with the Argentine superstar saying he is still unsure whether he will attend the 2026 games for the United States, Mexico and Canada. .
On December 18, 2022, the fairytale wrote itself as Messi’s Argentina faced Kylian Mbappe’s resilient France in one of football’s biggest clashes at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
After the dust had settled, Argentina lifted their third World Cup crown as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved crucial spot kicks as Messi finally exorcises the monster of the 2014 World Cup final as La Sales beat France 4-2 on penalties.
🇦🇷🇫🇷 The best #FIFAWorldCup Last ever?#Qatar 2022 pic.twitter.com/QgIp1skOxJ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2024
In what is considered the biggest final in the history of the World Cup, after Messi and Mbappe scored in the extra time in the 108th minute and the latter in the 118th minute, France made another comeback and tied the match 3-3. – 3 games went to penalties. France came back from the dead as Mbappe scored twice, once from a penalty and once from open play, as Les Blues held Argentina 2-2 at the end of regulation time. Before an Mbappe masterclass in the second half, Messi and Angel Di Maria opened the scoring for Argentina.
Messi ended the tournament with 13 goals in the FIFA World Cup and was also the first player to score in each of the group stages and knockout stages in the same edition of the tournament.
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