World Cup 2022

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      Lionel Messi wakes up with World Cup trophy in bed as Argentina star revels in stunning World Cup win

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      LIONEL MESSI is not letting the World Cup trophy out of his sight.The Argentina superstar even took the glittering gong to bed with him after a triumphant return to Buenos Aires.
      Lionel Messi slept with the World Cup trophyCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      Messi posted pictures of himself in bed with the World CupCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      Messi cracked a smile as he cradled the trophyCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      Messi and Co were given a hero’s welcome after stepping off the plane back from Qatar.
      Thousands lined the streets of the capital despite the squad not landing until 2am local time on Tuesday.
      They partied on an open top bus after touching down, with Messi and four of his team-mates nearly wiped out by street cable.
      When the 35-year-old finally did get to bed, he decided to take the World Cup trophy with him.
      READ MORE ON MESSI
      He woke up with the trophy still there, while rival Cristiano Ronaldo woke up unemployed as he continues to ponder his next career move.
      Messi took to Instagram on Tuesday to upload snaps of himself cuddling up next to it under the covers.
      He captioned his post: “Good morning.”
      And wife Antonela Roccuzzo might have a job on her hands trying to wrestle the trophy out of his bed.
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      One snap showed Messi lying with his arm around it, while in another he cradled the trophy as he sipped on mate tea, a South American speciality.
      The upload could turn out be another record breaker for Messi.
      He now holds the record for the most-liked picture ever on Instagram after overtaking ‘The Egg’ on over 57m likes with pictures from Sunday’s World Cup final triumph.
      But his post in bed with the trophy was liked over 10.6m times in less than an hour.
      Messi scored twice in the final as Argentina beat France on penalties after a thrilling game ended 3-3.
      He then recreated Diego Maradona’s iconic trophy lift as he led Argentina to a first World Cup triumph since 1986.
      Messi celebrates after leading Argentina to World Cup gloryCredit: Getty More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister congratulates Lionel Messi and Argentina but slams Qatar 2022 as ‘worst World Cup EVER’

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO’S sister has slammed Qatar 2022 as the “worst World Cup ever”.The 37-year-old was axed by Manchester United early on in the tournament, before underwhelming for Portugal in the group stage.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has a close relationship with his older sisterCredit: Instagram / @katiaaveirooficial
      He was dropped by boss Fernando Santos for the round of 16, with replacement Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick.
      Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing 1-0 to Morocco – with Ronaldo exiting the pitch in tears.
      After Sunday’s final Ronaldo’s sister Katia, 45, congratulated Argentina – but lamented the tournament as a whole.
      She wrote on social media: “The worst World Cup of all time… that thankfully gave us a great final.
      READ MORE ON RONALDO
      “What a match. Congratulations to Argentina.”
      Katia made no specific reference to Ronaldo’s great professional foe Lionel Messi – but did congratulate French hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe.
      She added: “Kylian Mbappe. This boy is unreal. What a bright future awaits you. Incredible.”
      After Ronaldo was dropped for Portugal’s clash with Switzerland, which they went on to win 6-1, Katia begged her brother to LEAVE his national team and come home.
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      Ronaldo, 37, was in tears after Portugal’s eliminationCredit: ITV
      She said: “I really wanted him to come home, leave the national team and sit next to us so we could hug him and say that everything is fine, remind him of what he conquered and what home he came from.
      “I really wanted him not to go there anymore , we have suffered enough (they will never know how big) you are and the little ones don’t realise how huge you are…
      “Come to your house. Which is where they understand you, where they embrace you. As always was. Where do you have all the gratitude. And not ingratitude.”
      Boss Santos was sacked following Portugal’s World Cup exit.
      Ronaldo, meanwhile has stayed silent since Argentina’s World Cup win.
      Lionel Messi won the World Cup in QatarCredit: Getty More

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      Lionel Messi beats Cristiano Ronaldo and ‘The Egg’s’ record for most liked Instagram post ever with World Cup picture

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      LIONEL MESSI got one over Cristiano Ronaldo again as his World Cup Instagram upload became the most-liked post by a sportsperson in history.And Messi has now broken the ‘The Egg’s’ outright record for the most-liked Instagram post ever.
      Lionel Messi has set a new record for most likes with his World Cup Instagram postCredit: Instagram
      Messi ‘The Egg’s’ record for most liked Instagram post everCredit: Instagram
      Ronaldo’s image of him playing chess with Messi was the previous most-liked post by a sportspersonCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Argentina ace overhauled a picture of an egg from the account @world_record_egg that somehow has just over 56.1million likes.
      Messi’s upload, a collection of photos of himself lifting the World Cup trophy, now has a whopping 57.4m likes.
      He originally overtook Ronaldo’s famous snap of the duo playing chess together.
      Now ‘The Egg’ is the latest post to be passed by the recently crowned champion of the world.
      READ MORE ON MESSI
      Messi, 35, made it a World Cup to remember as he led Argentina to victory in the final against France.
      The Paris Saint-Germain star scored twice as the game went to penalties thanks to a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe.
      But it was Messi’s men who emerged victorious to win their first World Cup since 1986.
      The result saw Messi nail down his place in the history books as arguably the greatest footballer ever.
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      And he now returns to PSG to chase even more silverware, with the oil-rich French side desperate to hand him a new contract.
      Messi’s fortunes are in stark contrast to Ronaldo’s, who finds himself without a club after having his Manchester United contract terminated.
      Ronnie, 37, dreamed of finding a new Champions League club by leading Portugal to glory in Qatar.
      But after being dropped for their final two matches, Ronaldo burst into tears as his country were given their marching orders in the quarters by Morocco.
      And Ronaldo now has another reason to weep after Messi smashed his record on Instagram.
      Last month he posted a picture showing him and Messi playing a game of chess for a Louis Vuitton photoshoot.
      The snap became the most-liked pic by a sportsperson with an incredible 41.9m clicks from fans.
      But it has now fallen behind Messi’s latest collection of photos showing him posing with the World Cup country.
      As of Tuesday morning, Messi’s post sat on a staggering 57.4m likes.
      That saw him storm over 1m likes clear of ‘The Egg’ to take the outright record.
      In his now-historic social media post, Messi wrote: “CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!. 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.
      Read More on The Sun
      “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!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA DAMN!!!!!We’re seeing each other very soon.”
      Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory on SundayCredit: Getty More

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      Moment Salt Bae SNATCHES World Cup trophy to shamelessly perform trademark ‘sprinkle’ as fury over pitch invasion grows

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      THIS is the moment Salt Bae snatched the World Cup trophy from a winner’s baby after pestering Lionel Messi for a selfie.Fifa was facing questions today over why the celebrity chef was allowed on the pitch following embarrassing scenes at the showpiece final.
      Salt Bae was filmed snatching the World Cup trophy from Angel Di MariaCredit: Twitter – @@JCUStreaks10
      He also snatched it away from Cristian Romero’s babyCredit: Twitter – @@JCUStreaks10
      He then kissed it like a champion in an embarrassing spectacleCredit: Twitter – @@JCUStreaks10
      Lisandro Martínez looks annoyed as the chef pretends to sprinkle salt on the trophyCredit: Twitter – @@JCUStreaks10
      Gary Lineker called Salt Bae a “pest” and former FA chairman Greg Dyke laid into world football boss Gianni Infantino as fury grew worldwide.
      The Turkish cook and Instagram star – real name Nusret Gökçe – was seen wearing a Fifa VIP badge round his neck on Sunday night.
      Footage shows him pestering the Argentina squad as they celebrated their cup glory with their families after the nailbiting shootout.
      He was seen grabbing hold of Lionel Messi by the shoulder at least twice as the baffled megastar tried to shrug him off.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      Bae’s persistence paid off as he finally got a selfie with the striker hailed the greatest of all time.
      The chef was also seen forcing himself into lineups of other stars as they clutched the famous golden trophy.
      At one point he was seen snatching it from Lisandro Martínez, who gave an awkward sideways glance at the bizarre interruption.
      Gökçe also pretended to do his trademark salt-sprinking trick over the trophy as irritated players stood by.
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      In another clip, Salt Bae is seen shaking his finger in a scolding gesture when Cristian Romero’s baby tried to touch the trophy.
      Instead the chef pulled it away, kissed it and raised it above his head like a champion.
      He also posted a series of boastful pics on his Instagram page, showing him pawing and kissing the 18-carat gold trophy.
      The disgraceful spectacle reportedly broke Fifa’s rules, which say only former winners and heads of state can handle the £17million prize.
      BBC host Gary Lineker shared footage of his attention seeking antics, saying: “He’s such a pest.”
      Greg Dyke said: “I don’t think Fifa and Infantino have come out of this very well.”
      Fifa has reportedly refused to say if Salt Bae was granted access to the pitch.
      If he was given “access all areas” accreditation, that would open the governing body to allegations of cronyism or special treatment for Infantino’s friends, reports The Times.
      Gökçe is said to be pals with controversial Fifa chief Infantino, who praised him as “number one” after visiting his Qatar steak house during the world cup.
      And he said: “Football unites the world and Nusret unites the world as well.”
      Infantino was also filmed doing the salt sprinkling himself in a cringe-worthy video at Gökçe’s Dubai restaurant in 2020.
      We have contacted Fifa for comment.
      Other VIP guests at the final included Twitter billionaire Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
      And French president Emmanuel Macron was slammed for his embarrassing attempts to console losing hattrick hero Kylian Mbappe.
      Salt Bae was filmed badgering Argentina captain Lionel MessiCredit: Twitter
      Messi eventually relented and posed for a selfieCredit: instagram
      Salt Bae broke Fifa rules by handling the £17m World Cup trophyCredit: instagram
      Gianni Infantino performs the ‘sprinkle’ at Salt Bae’s Dubai steak houseCredit: Instagram
      The chef was slammed on Twitter as “pathetic” for his attention seeking antics, which were also described as the “cringiest thing ever”.
      “The man’s just won the World Cup literally minutes prior and this ‘celebrity’ is feeling he’s entitled to get his attention,” said one Twitter user.
      “You shouldn’t touch the Cup. You’re not a champion,” was a second comment.
      Another furious Instagram user said he was “unfollowing” the Turkish chef.
      “You shouldn’t have touched that trophy only the players and staff who worked their asses off to become champions have that right.
      “You only want attention.
      Continuing the theme one post read “this is the time for players who have worked hard and not for celebrities to hang around and take selfies for their own promo”.
      Salt Bae isn’t the only celebrity to have fallen foul of Fifa etiquette.
      Rihanna was pictured holding the prize back in 2014 and later revealed she had kissed and posed for a selfie with the famous trophy.
      Salt Bae sparked fury before the World Cup after bragging about a £140,584 bill at his high-end restaurant.
      A single steak from the evening was over £1000, and the group spent almost £115,000 on wine alone.
      Salt Bae shot to fame in 2017 when a video of him lovingly preparing a steak by theatrically sprinkling a handful of salt crystals quickly went viral.
      Nusret quickly became a celebrity in his own right, cooking for celebrities like David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, and DJ Khaled.
      He opened his first Nusr-Et steakhouse in Istanbul in 2010.
      Read More on The Sun

      The brand grew, and he opened restaurants across the Middle East, including in Ankara, Doha and Dubai.
      In 2021, he opened the first London Branch of the chain in the posh area of Knightsbridge. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘a big FAILURE’ of World Cup, the opposite to rival Lionel Messi, claims Germany hero Lothar Matthaus

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO was “a big FAILURE” at the World Cup while long-time rival Lionel Messi was “the absolute winner”, says Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.Ronaldo, 37, crashed out in the World Cup quarter-finals after Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Morocco.
      Ronaldo was ‘a big FAILURE’ at the World CupCredit: Getty
      Long-time Rival Messi won the World CupCredit: Getty
      One-time winner Matthaus says Ronaldo’s ‘ego trips’ damaged both himself and PortugalCredit: AP:Associated Press
      The free agent started Portugal’s knockout campaign from the bench after lacklustre displays in the group stages, which saw him score just one goal.
      Messi, meanwhile, went on to lift the glittering, golden trophy, cementing himself as “the player of the millennium”.
      That’s according to one-time World Cup winner, Matthaus, who labelled CR7 “a big failure of the World Cup” who has “damaged his legacy”.
      Matthaus told Bild: “With his ego trips, Ronaldo has damaged the team and himself.
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      “There is no doubt that he was a great player and an absolutely lethal finisher. But now he has damaged his legacy.
      “I find it hard to think that he can find a place in a team. I kind of feel sorry for Ronaldo.”
      Matthaus continued: “Ronaldo is of course a big failure of the World Cup, the opposite of Messi.
      “[Messi is] the absolute winner. He deserves it because he has given me and all football fans great joy with his qualities and the way he plays over 17-18 years.
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      “For me, Messi is the player of the millennium.”
      Ronaldo played the World Cup without a club after Manchester United ripped up his contract.
      The 819 career-goal forward’s explosive sit-down interview with SunSport columnist and TalkTV main man, Piers Morgan, was the final nail in the coffin.
      Ronaldo accused United of betrayal, while also declaring he did not respect manager Erik ten Hag.
      He will now search for a new club and was recently training at former team Real Madrid’s base.
      However, he worked separately from Carlo Ancelotti and his men.
      Meanwhile, Messi and Co have touched down in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, medals round necks and the £16million golden trophy in hand.
      Thousands lined the streets in the early hours of Tuesday morning as the Argentina team celebrated on an open top bus.
      The Argentine government has declared a national Bank Holiday to allow fans to take part in the celebrations which will see the players travelling to the famous Obelisk monument at noon local time with the World Cup.
      Thousands lined the streets to see Argentina’s World Cup-winning teamCredit: Getty
      Messi and four team-mates sat at the top of the busCredit: AFP
      An official celebration will take place at 12pm local timeCredit: Reuters More

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      Argentina win World Cup LIVE REACTION: Wild celebrations as Messi and Co return home – latest

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      LIONEL MESSI and Argentina have returned home to Buenos Aires with the World Cup trophy to wild celebrations.The thrilling final went down to pure shoot-out drama with both Kylian Mbappe and Messi scoring.
      Kylian Mbappe had completed his hat-trick in extra-time to send a sensational final into penalties after Messi had put Argentina back in front.
      An injury saw Karim Benzema miss out on the entire competition and he has since confirmed his retirement from international football.

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      Not over yet
      Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi is not retiring from international football and he will play at the next World Cup, claims former Argentina star Jorge Valdano.
      Valdano told Cadena Cope: “When I interviewed him before the World Cup, off camera he told me that he was going to play in his fifth World Cup and that no footballer had played six.
      “He told me that it was impossible, and he told me ‘if I’m a world champion I’ll keep my shirt on until the next World Cup.’
      “We will see if Messi is capable. Football has shown that it is practically impossible to play in six World Cups”
      Argentina triumph recap
      Argentina captain Lionel Messi finally won his first ever World Cup – the only trophy that has eluded his stunning 18-year career.
      The Albiceleste won their third overall trophy in the competition – their first since 1986 – after beating France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.
      Messi opened the scoring from the spot before Angel Di Maria doubled the Copa America champions’ lead.
      But then the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe took over and scored twice to equalise for Les Bleus.
      Messi put the Argentines ahead during extra-time before Mbappe equalised again.
      Argentina then won on penalties when Emiliano Martinez denied Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni missed and Gonzalo Montiel beat Hugo Lloris
      Bayern line up Martinez move
      Bayern Munich are looking to sign Argentina World Cup hero Emi Martinez from Aston Villa as a replacement for Manuel Neuer.
      And the ex-Arsenal star’s agent admits a deal abroad could be close, saying: “Today there are few teams that can afford a goalkeeper like him.
      “But Serie A, well, why not?
      “Clearly aiming high, for the Champions League.”
      Ronaldo makes Worst Team XI
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in a World Cup Worst XI.
      The team was put together by data gathers Sofascore.
      Ronnie leads the way up top with Lautaro Martinez.
      Meanwhile, Edouard Mendy and Sergino Dest are also included.

      Petit slams France final effort
      Emmanuel Petit has criticised France for their dull opening 70 minutes against Argentina in the World Cup final.
      He told Mega Casino: “Even before we lost the match on penalties, I’m thinking ‘what the hell is wrong with us?’ Why did we wait 70 minutes to play the final? 
      “I can guarantee you that those French players, who were so close to touching the World Cup and had that taken away from them, when they take time to think about the game, they will tell you that what happened during the first half, that can’t happen in a World Cup final. 
      “It’s impossible. It takes a lot to get to the final and you need to be ready. They were not ready in the first half, that is a big regret. We only played for twenty minutes in the entire match.”
      Salt Bae in Cup trouble
      Salt Bae has been criticised for joining in Argentina’s World Cup celebrations.
      The celebrity chef was seen muscling in on Lionel Messi and Co’s party after their win against France on Sunday.
      And Salt Bae even appeared to snatch the World Cup trophy from a BABY before posing for snaps.
      Salt Bae slammed for touching £17m 18-carat World Cup trophy breaking FIFA etiquette while posing with Argentina stars
      Messi upstages Ronaldo once again
      Lionel Messi has got one over Cristiano Ronaldo again… this time for the most-liked Instagram post in history.
      The Argentina star shared photos of himself with the World Cup after beating France on Sunday.
      And it has now garnered more likes than Ronaldo’s post of himself playing chess against Messi.
      Not only that, Messi’s latest post has now overtaken the previous record holder for likes, set by a picture of an EGG.

      Messi in near-miss shocker
      World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi came close to being knocked off the back of an open top bus moments after returning to Argentina.
      Messi and team-mates ducked under an overhead power cable with seconds to spare as they headed to the Argentine Football Association’s training ground.
      Leandro Paredes was perched on the edge of the top deck of the bus but managed to keep his balance despite having to squirm away as it was almost on top of him.
      He ducked down just in time but lost his baseball cap when the cable hit the top of his head and knocked it off.
      SEE THE VIDEO HERE
      Benzema set for Zidane U-turn
      Karim Benzema could come out of international retirement for France.
      That’s only if Zinedine Zidane replaces Didier Deschamps.
      Benzema quit the international scene just one day after France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina, with reports claiming he was unhappy not have been included in the squad despite carrying an injury.
      But Foot Mercato claims the Real Madrid man will make himself available should Zidane, as expected, replace Deschamps at the helm.
      Tops off for Argentina fan
      The Argentina fan who risked jail by getting her kit off at the World Cup final has broken her silence by posting more topless videos.
      It appeared Noe – who has named herself “The Topless Girl” on social media – and her friend escaped punishment in Qatar.
      Noe shared more topless clips from Sunday’s celebrations.
      And she even appeared to post a picture of her boarding a plane out of the country.
      SEE MORE OF TOPLESS FAN HERE

      Messi gets top BBC prize
      Lionel Messi has been named BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year.
      The Argentina captain scored twice on Sunday as he finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy.
      The prize is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has “achieved the most notable sporting success” on the globe during that calendar year.
      The 2021 winner was Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore.
      Martinez shares brilliant throwback snap
      Argentina World Cup hero Emiliano Martinez has posted an incredible throwback photo as a kid from his Independiente days.
      The Aston Villa man looks unrecognisable as a youngster.
      And he’d never have known the huge role he was set to play in his country’s World Cup triumph in 2022.
      SEE MARTINEZ’S PHOTO HERE
      Party declared to celebrate win
      Argentina has declared a national holiday on Tuesday to celebrate Lionel Messi and Co’s stunning World Cup triumph over France.
      Argentina’s heroes returned to Buenos Aires this morning.
      And it has been announced there will be a national holiday to toast the triumph.
      The celebrations are expected to start at around 3pm UK time.
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      And some could be heading to the Premier League in big-money moves this winter.
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      Argentina party on but France get heroes’ welcome  
      Argentina’s World Cup winners are waking up with sore heads after persistent partying.
      And France’s losing finalists raised their arms but barely a smile as they acknowledged a heroes’ welcome back from thousands of fans outside their Paris hotel.
      Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick couldn’t prevent Argentina’s victory but did help him beat Lionel Messi to he highest individual rating for the tournament from France’s L’Equipe. 
      Messi, meanwhile, restated his desire at the age of 35 to continue playing international football following his two-goal masterclass in the final.
      And PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi confirmed he will start talking to the legend about a contract extension.
      Bukayo Saka was the only Englishmen to make the best World Cup XI.
      Lastly, Argentina’s triumph robbed France of successive World Cup crowns but has so far sparked little transfer interest.
      Instead, French replacement striker Marcus Thuram is the finalist at the centre of most of the speculation.
      Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are being linked with the Borussia Monchengladbach ace, 25.
      Punter wins £240k after cashing out on France
      A gambling genius has won £240,000 – after cashing out his seven-team accumulator moments before France’s World Cup final defeat.
      American Daniel Forte had backed Les Bleus to lift the trophy as part of a £21 bet he placed in March.
      Forte correctly forecast Manchester City would win the Premier League.
      He also tipped AC Milan to win Serie A, and Los Angeles FC to lift the MLS Cup.
      Other spot-on selections included Golden State Warriors to win the NBA finals, Colorado Avalanche to win Ice Hockey’s Stanley Cup and Kansas to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
      Forte stood to win 557,770 dollars – £457,738 – if France completed the final leg of his acca with odds of 21,453-1.
      But in an inspired decision, he opted to cash out for $283,583 – £240,000 – just hours before Didier Deschamps’ men lost on penalties to Argentina.
      Which is a result that would have left the Nevada-based punter with nothing.
      Forte said: “Thank God I cashed out. I’d be leaving on a stretcher with a heart attack otherwise.
      “There was a lot of thought and a lot of talking to my family.
      “We decided to take the £283K cashout, and change my life.”
      Goodbye smallest World Cup, hello the biggest…
      So that’s a wrap on the smallest World Cup in living memory — now we can get ready for the biggest, writes MARTIN LIPTON.
      For all the talk of new frontiers and “bringing people together”, Fifa are delighted to say goodbye to Qatar, the controversy and criticism.
      Next comes a World Cup in three countries, not one city. In 16 venues, split across four time zones and thousands of miles — rather than the distance between Selhurst Park and Kenilworth Road.

      With 48 teams, as opposed to the 32 that has been the norm since 1998. More from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Even, for the first time, a guaranteed slot for Oceania.
      And, almost certainly, a record 104 MATCHES and 33 days as well. It will be 12 groups of four but the real issues are over the next stage.
      Qatar was condensed to 29 days, with four matches each day in the opening stage.
      But the big European clubs will put huge pressure on Fifa to prevent an expanding tournament lasting any longer than 33 days maximum.
      The solution is obvious — up to six games each day in the opening round although that is more possible in 2026 than in any other potential venue for the future.
      FULL LOWDOWN ON 2026 HERE
      Messi wins Beeb award
      Lionel Messi has been named BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year.
      The Argentina captain scored twice on Sunday as he finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy.
      The 35-year-old superstar helped guide his national team past France on penalties.

      And the BBC announced they have dedicated the win by naming the diminutive genius as the world star of the year.
      The prize is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has “achieved the most notable sporting success” on the globe during that calendar year.
      The 2021 winner was Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore.
      It is yet another trophy for Messi, who spoke about winning the World Cup after lifting it in Qatar.
      He said: “It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little.
      “I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here.”
      Fans hail France stars at Paris hotel
      France stars put a brave face on their World Cup final pain as they went on their hotel balcony in Paris to acknowledge a heroes’ welcome home by thousands of fans.
      But Kylian Mbappe still couldn’t raise a smile as he waved to flag-waving supporters following an historic hat-trick that couldn’t prevent Argentina lifting the trophy.
      Credit: AFP
      Antoine Griezmann, one of the players of the tournament, managed a beaming grin.
      And boss Didier Deschamps also produced a rueful half-smile.
      Olivier Giroud, who was was subbed before half-time, and Aurelien Tchouameni were also snapped on the balcony applauding fans.
      Argentina’s 4-2 victory on penalties after a 3-3 draw denied France and Deschamps two successive World Cup triumphs.
      Credit: Getty
      Bukayo only England player in best XI
      Notoriously harsh football critics L’Equipe have named England star Bukayo Saka in the World Cup Team of the Tournament… and only gave one player above a SEVEN.
      Arsenal ace Saka was one of England‘s shining lights in their World Cup campaign, scoring three goals in their run to the quarter-finals.
      Only one player was given above a SEVEN and it wasn’t World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi, instead Kylian Mbappe.
      Saka rated at 6.5.

      Kyl the mood
      Kylian Mbappe and Co returned to France following their World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
      And the squad understandably appeared to be in glum spirits after their efforts in a heroic comeback were undone in a dramatic shootout.

      The French had found themselves 2-0 down until a late penalty boosted them into life.
      Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe netted a three-minute brace to drag the game into extra-time before becoming just the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
      However, he was unable to do anymore as his nation lost out on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
      And a day later Didier Deschamps’ unlucky Les Bleus arrived back home to a hero’s welcome. Thousands gathered at Place de la Concorde in Paris to give well wishes to the beaten finalists.
      Had France won the Jules Rimet they would have become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
      France boss Deschamps would have also become the first manager ever to win it back-to-back. He appeared to be in a better mood than his compatriots as he was spotted smiling on the runway.
      Utd and Arsenal gear up for Thur de France
      Manchester United have reportedly joined Arsenal and Tottenham in eyeing France striker Marcus Thuram.
      Bild even say Borussia Moenchengladbach are looking at potential replacements for the 25-year-old, who came on late in the first half during Argentina’s World Cup final triumph on Sunday.
      It’s thought United are unsure whether spend big on a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in January – with a loan signing regarded as a strong possibility.
      That might be a boost for the Gunners if they decide to bid for Thuram.
      Punter wins £240k after cashing out on France
      A gambling genius has won £240,000 – after cashing out his seven-team accumulator moments before France’s World Cup final defeat.
      American Daniel Forte had backed Les Bleus to lift the trophy as part of a £21 bet he placed in March.
      Forte correctly forecast Manchester City would win the Premier League.
      He also tipped AC Milan to win Serie A, and Los Angeles FC to lift the MLS Cup.
      Other spot-on selections included Golden State Warriors to win the NBA finals, Colorado Avalanche to win Ice Hockey’s Stanley Cup and Kansas to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
      Forte stood to win 557,770 dollars – £457,738 – if France completed the final leg of his acca with odds of 21,453-1.
      But in an inspired decision, he opted to cash out for $283,583 – £240,000 – just hours before Didier Deschamps’ men lost on penalties to Argentina.
      Which is a result that would have left the Nevada-based punter with nothing.
      Forte said: “Thank God I cashed out. I’d be leaving on a stretcher with a heart attack otherwise.
      “There was a lot of thought and a lot of talking to my family.
      “We decided to take the £283K cashout, and change my life.”
      Fans puzzled by Aguero’s smoke and winners
      Sergio Aguero joined in the jubilant celebrations as Argentina lifted the World Cup, but fans spotted something rather peculiar.
      The former Manchester City ace posted a photo in the dressing room with the World Cup trophy in hand while smoking a cigar.

      However, fans noticed he had turned around his ID badge and they were left convinced he did so in order to claim it as a World Cup medal.
      One user said: “Can’t stop laughing at how he turned his ID badge around so it looks like a medal 😭”
      A second user said: “Aguero turned his ID badge around so it looks like a medal. He thinks we can’t see him 😭.”
      A third said: “Aguero turnt over his id badge so it looks like a medal☠️”
      “Shameless 😭😭,” said another.
      Aguero was not in the Argentina squad after retiring from football in late 2021.
      It came after he was diagnosed with heart condition cardiac arrhythmia.
      Despite this, it did not stop the 34-year-old from donning a full Argentina kit as he joined the on-pitch celebrations.
      Messi gains 21m more Instagram followers
      World Cup winner Lionel Messi’s Instagram following soared 20million as stars in Qatar picked up an extra 210m in total.
      But despite his problems at club and international level, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo remains the king online, boosted by a near 19m rise to 519m.
      Kylian Mbappe’s final hat-trick for beaten France against Argentina helped his following rise from 73.5m to 83m.
      And Richarlison led a string of big increases for Premier League players.
      Brazil’s Tottenham striker saw his backing swell from 17.3m to 19.6m. And Manchester United’s Brazilian winger Antony went from 6.2m to 9.3m.
      But as a World Cup winner, Aston Villa’s Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez might be disappointed to ‘only’ jump from 4.3m to 7.5m
      AceOdds compiled the list, with spectacular percentage leaps coming from South Korea’s Cho Gue-Sung (8773%), Richarlison (167%) and Argentina duo Julian Alvarez (136%) and Enzo Fernandez (353%)
      An extra million followers pulls in £3,000 in social media post sponsorships, so Messi’s heroics earned him an additional £63,000 from the tournament. The PSG attacker, 35, can now demand £1,194,707 in fees for just one Instagram post.
      Load more entries… More

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      Messi and Argentina’s World Cup heroes almost wiped out by street cable on open top bus parade as millions celebrate

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      WORLD CUP-WINNING captain Lionel Messi came close to being knocked off the back of an open top bus moments after returning to Argentina.Messi and four team-mates, including Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria, ducked under an overhead power cable with seconds to spare as they headed to the Argentine Football Association’s training ground.
      ¡CUIDADO CON LOS CABLES MUCHACHOS! Insólito momento en la llegada de los campeones del mundo a Argentina.Se le voló la gorra a Leandro Paredes. pic.twitter.com/mUfGmOTQdU— ESPN Argentina (@ESPNArgentina) December 20, 2022

      Fans climbed high to see the trophy held by their captainCredit: Getty
      An overhead power cable crept up on the ArgentinesCredit: Vivo
      Paredes’ hat was knocked offCredit: Vivo
      Trophy-holding Messi and Co laughed off the shockCredit: Vivo
      Messi, Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi, De Paul and Paredes sat on top of the bus
      Thousands of rapturous fans stayed up to greet the players after their plane touched down around 2am local time on Tuesday following a 19-hour journey home.
      Footage of their near-miss with the cable showed Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo de Paul spotting it at the last-minute and alerting his team-mates as he ducked down just in time.
      On-loan Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Paredes was perched on the edge of the top deck of the bus but managed to keep his balance despite having to squirm away as it was almost on top of him.
      He ducked down just in time but lost his baseball cap when the cable hit the top of his head and knocked it off.
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      Messi, clutching the World Cup from his high-up position in the middle of the group of five Argentinian players, took the scare in his stride and could be seen laughing off the shock.
      An Argentinian journalist commenting on the scare said: “Paredes has just lost his cap. What a moment. Be careful boys.”
      The Argentine government has declared today a national Bank Holiday to allow fans to take part in the celebrations which will see the players travelling to Buenos Aires’ famous Obelisk monument later with the World Cup.
      More than a million fans congregated around the iconic monument after Argentina’s thrilling penalty shootout victory against France on Sunday.
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      A specially-prepared bus will take them from AFA’s training ground facilities to the Obelisk.
      AFA confirmed in a tweet: “The world champion squad will head towards the Obelisk at midday to celebrate the World Cup triumph with fans.
      Messi holding the trophy like a baby with best pal De Paul and a hat-wearing ParedesCredit: EPA

      “Yes….we are the World Champions.”
      The tweet ended with a three stars emotion – to reflect the fact Argentina has now won the cup three times.
      Many feared captain Messi would retire following the World Cup – win or lose.
      However, the 35-year-old has confirmed he intends to keep on playing for his country after a trophy-laden year-and-a-half.
      Argentina’s trophy haul started in the summer of 2021, where they won their first Copa America since 1993.
      Messi had lost three finals in the tournament prior.
      The Finalissima was then resurrected after 29 years.
      It had only taken place two times prior in 1985 and 1993.
      Argentina won the 1993 edition of the one-off final between the European and South American champions, beating Denmark 5-4 on penalties.
      But in the summer of 2022, Argentina destroyed Italy 3-0 inside Wembley.
      Read More on The Sun
      Messi then completed the set with a World Cup – a tournament he scored seven and assisted three in.
      He is the second-most decorated player of ALL TIME with 42 trophies, trailing ex-Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves by one.
      Thousands lined the streets of the Argentine capitalCredit: Reuters
      Argentina’s squad will return to their base for rest before partyingCredit: AFP
      The famous Obelisk will be the scene for Tuesday’s celebrationsCredit: AP
      Messi scored a brace in the nail-biting finalCredit: AFP More

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      How World Cup 2026 will work with 104 matches, six games a day and 48 teams in biggest tournament ever

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      SO that’s a wrap on the smallest World Cup in living memory — now we can all get ready for the biggest.Doha’s soaring skyscrapers, sparkling stadiums and gleaming Metro stations are now football’s past.
      Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Here’s a look at how the logistics of the 2026 World Cup will work
      For all the talk of new frontiers and “bringing people together”, the truth is that Fifa are absolutely delighted to be saying goodbye to Qatar, the controversy and criticism.
      Even before the suitcases were packed, thoughts were turning to the next incarnation of the event that does unite the world in passion.
      A World Cup in three countries, not one city. In 16 venues, split across four time zones and thousands of miles — rather than the distance between Selhurst Park and Kenilworth Road.
      With 48 teams, as opposed to the 32 that has been the norm since 1998. More from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Even, for the first time, a guaranteed slot for Oceania.
      READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI
      And, almost certainly, a record 104 MATCHES and 33 days as well.
      It will be 12 groups of four but the real issues are over the next stage.
      The easiest way would be the top two in each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, reaching the final 32 and eight games, instead of seven, required to win.
      There are some arguments, though, that the best eight group winners should automatically go to the last 16, with the other four group winners plus the eight runners-up, playing off to join them.
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      That would mean 96 games not 104 — still the biggest World Cup by far, with only 64 matches in Qatar — but also cause issues.
      Teams drawn in a “soft” opening group who won all three matches easily would be rewarded for the luck of the draw, while it would also change the concept that all sides must play the same number of games to win the biggest prize in football.
      Another option is to split the 24 competing teams into two halves, with the “winner” of the two sections meeting in the final.
      That would mean the top two joined by the four best third-place sides in their half — more sensible if the tournament is split into geographical “east” and “west” sections — even if they were not in the top eight third-place teams overall.
      But the other factor that will be very different is the number of games each day in the group phase.
      Qatar was condensed to 29 days, with four matches each day in the opening stage.
      But the big European clubs will put huge pressure on Fifa to prevent an expanding tournament lasting any longer than 33 days maximum.
      The solution is obvious — up to six games each day in the opening round although that is more possible in 2026 than in any other potential venue for the future.
      Christian Pulisic’s USA are joint hosts with Canada and MexicoCredit: Getty
      Alphonso Davies will have a shot at World Cup redemption in 2026Credit: Getty
      East Coast cities like New York and Boston are five hours behind the UK, while Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco are a further three hours behind.
      One scenario would see the first match of the day starting in, perhaps, Toronto at noon local time, which is 5pm in the UK.
      Matches could then start every 2½ hours in Atlanta, Houston, Mexico City and Vancouver, with the last match in San Francisco beginning at 9.30pm local time — 5.30am at home. But there is still a problem for Fifa.
      Broadcasters for the major European nations will demand earlier kick-offs and the first three games of the day — but you cannot have Spain, Germany, England, France, Portugal and Holland all in the same half of the draw.
      Likewise, South American fans would prefer later, West Coast games.
      Fifa attempted to justify the choice of Qatar by pointing to the limited distances teams had to travel and pushing green credentials, sustainability and carbon offsetting.
      In 2026, driving between many of the cities is not feasible. Everyone will have to criss-cross Canada, Mexico and the States by plane.
      Read More on The Sun
      You try to get a train from New York to Boston, let alone Seattle.
      But that is for Gianni Infantino and Co to sort out. It won’t be easy. More