World Cup 2022: Lionel Messi, finally the lucky star
Lionel Messi, with the World Cup trophy, carried in triumph.
REUTERS - KAI PFAFFENBACH
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
The brilliant dribbler from Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar on Sunday December 18, with a double in the process.
Under the eyes of Zlatan Ibrahimović, former resident of Paris Saint-Germain, Messi, at the twilight of an incredible career, won the trophy he lacked, for his fifth participation in the World Cup.
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From our special envoy to Qatar,
The noise was deafening in the stands of the Lusail stadium at the end of this crazy meeting which had seen France come back from hell three times, before giving in to penalties.
We almost felt like we were at La Bombonera (the candy box in French), the most legendary stadium in Argentina, South America and probably the world.
In Qatar, the gods of football were Argentinian.
In the history of the World
At 35, the genius with seven Ballons d'Or, who notably has four Champions Leagues, the Copa América 2021, gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, and ten Spanish championships with Barça, could - to now be the equal of Maradona in the eyes of his fellow citizens.
In Lusail, the "Pulga", was worn by a white-hot public, the "
best
" according to coach Lionel Scaloni.
Here he is voted best player of the World Cup.
By shooting and realizing the penalty obtained by Ángel Di María in the 23rd minute, Lionel Messi entered the history of the World Cup with a double record.
The Rosario native became the first player in history to take five penalties in a single edition of the World Cup, and the first player in history to take six penalties in the World Cup (one in 2018, five in 2022).
By scoring against Croatia in the semi-finals, the PSG player had become the top scorer in the history of Argentina at the World Cup.
The tears of 2014, the joy of 2022
"
Obviously I wanted to end my career with this (...) But I love football, I love what I do, I love being in the national team, being with this group.
And of course, I want to continue to live a few more matches being world champion
, ”he said on TyC Sports and on Argentinian television.
“
If he wants to continue in 2026, he will be with us.
He transmits a lot to his teammates.
He gives so much to his teammates
, ”says coach Scaloni at a press conference.
The 2022 World Cup has therefore consecrated a genius, the first player to score in the group phase, eighth, quarter, semi and final of the same edition of the World Cup.
The tears of 2014 in Brazil after the final loss to Germany gave way to a broad smile as they lifted the long-awaited trophy.
“
I knew it, I had said it at some point, that God was going to give it to me, and I don't know why, I had a feeling it was going to be this time.
And that gives me immense joy
.
»
This World Cup in Qatar, atypical and decried, ended in the fever of Lusail, in the sky blue, white and black colors of the Albiceleste.
And to the glory of Messi, certainly under the gaze of Diego Maradona, who died in 2020.
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