Lusail, Qatar (AP) December,18– Lionel Messi’s unique career has come to an end. The Argentinian superstar is finally world champion.
No discussion now. Messi definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame of the greatest footballers of all time, alongside his three-time world champion Pele in Brazil and the late Argentinian superstar Diego Maradona, to whom Messi is often compared. Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986 and dominated Argentina’s World Cup. The torch will one day pass to Mbappe. Mbappe’s late goal mimicked Jeff Hurst’s hat-trick for England in 1966, and he sparked one of the most dramatic finals in the history of the ’92 tournament. but not yet.
“Let’s go, Argentina!” Messi yelled into the field microphone during the post-match celebration after playing in a record-breaking 26th World Cup match.
Messi was in great shape from the start, leading Argentina from the penalty spot and in the 36th minute Angeldi’s MarÃa goal tangled in him to make it 2-0.
Messi scored a second goal in the 108th minute to once again put Argentina on the brink of the title. Europe’s four consecutive World Cup wins came to an end. Brazil was the last South American country to win, and was also the winner in Asia in 2002 when Japan and South Korea hosted the tournament.
Argentina won her 1978 and her 1986 World Cup titles. Qatar confirmed last year’s Copa America win. This is his first major trophy since 1993.
This is the pinnacle of Messi’s international career, and he may not end at 35. After all, he finished the World Cup with 7 goals. This puts him one behind Mbappé’s tournament lead of eight.
It was also the first unique World Cup final to be held in the Middle East and the Arab world.
Since then, a year-long scrutiny has focused on changing the dates from the traditional June-July period to November-December, criticizing the treatment of migrant workers and accusing homosexual acts of being illegal. I feel uneasy about hosting the biggest football event in the country where it is being held. .
Despite Mbappe, 23, who was Messi’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, he could do anything to emulate Pele by winning his first two World Cups. Messi became the first player to score a goal in each knockout round of a group stage and a single World Cup.
Ever since Argentina lost his unimaginable 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in the first group match, Messi has been a man on a mission. He assumed the responsibility of leading the national team in its final World Cup, playing in the spirit of Maradona and showing a seldom seen sparkling performance skill of aggression.
However, Maradona never scored a goal in a final. Messi has something that could erase the memory of his 2014 World Cup final, when Argentina lost his 1-0 to Germany and Messi missed a big chance in the second half.