World Cup 2022

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed he will start talking to Lionel Messi about a contract extension.The 35-year-old superstar helped guide Argentina to their third World Cup trophy on Sunday night.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has promised to talk contracts with Lionel Messi following his World Cup success.Credit: Instagram
The thrilling final ended with a penalty shootout victory over France, following a 3-3 draw.
And as Messi and his team-mates jet back to Buenos Aires with the trophy, his club chief has announced some more good news.
Al-Khelafi was asked if he would tie down both the ex-Barcelona forward and final loser Kylian Mbappe.
He told RMC Sport: “Keep Mbappe and Messi? Of course, one is the top scorer and the other is best player in the World Cup. ”
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Messi’s contract expires at the end of this season.
He will go back to the Ligue 1 champions after a short Christmas break.
La Albiceleste celebrated long into the night as they won the already famous contest at the Lusail Stadium.
The Argentine captain scored twice and then converted his penalty in the shootout as he finally got his hands on the famous trophy.
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It all went down to pure penalty drama after Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick.
Ultimately, Argentina held their nerve in the spot-kicks better than the French as Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed penalties and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel scored the winner in the shootout.
Mbappe had completed his trio in extra-time to send a sensational final into penalties after Messi had put Argentina back in front. More

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.
Sergio Aguero celebrates with the World Cup trophyCredit: Getty
Fans were convinced Aguero turned his ID around to try and claim it as a World Cup medal
Aguero spotted celebrating with a medal and his IDCredit: Reuters
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☠️”
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“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.
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This led to John Terry, who infamously did the same after Chelsea won the Champions League without him on the pitch in 2012, calling out the striker.
He joked: “Aguero has gone for the full John Terry there hasn’t he?! I did it first.”
He later added on Twitter: “If your going to do it, at least go for it and put the shin pads and boots on.”
Aguero bizarrely aimed a dig at 20-year-old France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga as well. More

L’EQUIPE have named their worst team of the World Cup… with TWO Wales players making the side.The French newspaper are well-known for their harsh critiquing of players’ performances.
Matty Cash’s Poland were eliminated by France in the last-16Credit: Getty
L’Equipe’s worst team of the 2022 World Cup
Gareth Bale and Wayne Hennessey had disappointing tournaments for WalesCredit: Getty
That has already been shown in their refusal to give Ousmane Dembele any form of rating for his performance in the final – which saw him hooked before half-time.
They also only rated one player in their team of the tournament above a seven – that being Kylian Mbappe.
Even Lionel Messi – the Player of the Tournament and winning captain – had to settle for a 6.71.
But L’Equipe really got their claws into the flops of the past month with a worst team of the competition.
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And two of Robert Page’s Welsh squad made the unwanted cut in the form of keeper Wayne Hennessey and captain Gareth Bale.
Hennessy was sent off for a dreadfully rash challenge in his side’s second group game – which they went on to lose 2-0 to Iran.
And while Bale did score a penalty in the 1-1 draw with USA, he was largely anonymous for The Dragons as they crashed out with just one point.
Aside from Wales, only Poland have more than one player in L’Equipe’s worst team.
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Despite getting to the last-16, three of Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side were named in the XI – Krystian Bielik, Piotr Zielinski and Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash.
Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi makes up one of the centre-back spots alongside Iran’s Hossein Kanaani – who played just 45 minutes but was booked without coming on in the loss to USA.
Belgium flanker Yannick Carrasco slots in at left-back after a dismal campaign saw the 2018 semi-finalists exit in the group stage.
Either side of central midfielders Bielik and Zielinski are Senegal’s Krepin Diatta And Denmark’s Andreas Skov Olsen.
Then up front, Bale is joined by Costa Rica’s Anthony Contreras – who failed to score in any of his three matches in Qatar.
Krystian Bielik and Piotr Zielinski had poor tournaments for PolandCredit: Getty
Yannick Carrasco struggled to make any impact for a poor Belgium sideCredit: Getty More

JORDAN PICKFORD was denied the World Cup’s Golden Glove Award despite having the same number of clean sheets as winner Emiliano Martinez. Both goalkeepers picked up three clean sheets in their time in Qatar.
Emiliano Martinez picked up the Golden Glove Award at the World CupCredit: Getty
This is despite Jordan Pickford having the same amount of clean sheetsCredit: Getty
A Fifa Technical Study Group gave Martinez the awardCredit: Rex
Pickford, 28, conceded in only two of his five games for England, while Martinez, 30, kept three clean sheets across seven games for Argentina.
Martinez conceded over double the amount of the Everton stopper but was given the accolade after a review from Fifa’s Technical Study Group – headed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
With a tie-break in hand – with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou also collecting three clean sheets – this year’s edition of the Golden Glove was deliberated over by the expert panel.
It included a number of ex-pros and managers such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Alberto Zaccheroni, Cha Du-Ri, Sunday Oliseh, Faryd Mondragon and Pascal Zuberbuhler.
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In addition, the group was supported by a team of analysts, data engineers and scientists in order to come to the best decision – which they ruled to be Martinez.
The Aston Villa shot-stopper became the hero of his nation after a string of fine saves across the knockout rounds and in penalty shootouts.
This included his huge last-minute save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in the final and drag the game to penalties.
Martinez was slammed for his “despicable” behaviour during the shootout – not that he will care due to it helping to win Lionel Messi and Co a first World Cup since 1986.
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In the event of needing a tiebreak in previous editions, the award simply came down to a number of factors.
Firstly, how far the goalie had progressed into the tournament.
It would then be followed by how many saves they had made and the minutes played.
Here’s how the World Cup final played out on paper More

FANS have been joking that Georgina Rodriguez has been BANNED from celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win. The model, born in Buenos Aires, spent the winter tournament in Qatar supporting Portugal for her beloved Cristiano Ronaldo.
Georgina Rodriguez pictured during the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were dumped out in the quarter-finalCredit: Rex
But it was Ronaldo’s great on-field rival Lionel Messi who at last got his hands on football’s most prized possession.
Ronaldo, whose Portugal side were dumped out in the quarter-final stages, has remained radio silent after the thrilling showpiece game.
And so too has his Argentine partner, leading to some hilarious reaction from fans online.
One said: “Georgina Rodriguez is the only Argentine to not celebrate her nation winning the World Cup.
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“Thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo the unemployed.”
Another joked: “Ronaldo’s girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez should at least congratulate her country Argentina.”
One added: “Georgina Rodriguez is the only Argentine who can’t celebrate their trophy.”
Ronaldo, who left Manchester United while on international duty, failed to inspire Portugal past the last eight, losing to Morocco.
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Meanwhile, Argentina beat holders France in a dramatic final that ended 3-3 after extra time, with Messi twice scoring.
The game was decided on penalties where Emi Martinez was the hero of the shootout.
Messi became the first Argentine to lift the World Cup since his idol Diego Maradona, almost four decades ago in 1986.
Lionel Messi with the World Cup trophyCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI and his Argentina team-mates were pictures of happiness as they jetted back to Buenos Aires with the World Cup trophy.The Paris Saint-Germain superstar helped guide La Ablisceleste to their third Jules Rimet Trophy on Sunday night with a penalty shootout victory over France – which came after pulsating 3-3 draw.
Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy on SundayCredit: REX
Messi posed with the Jules Rimet on Argentina’s flight back to Buenos AiresCredit: INSTAGRAM@LEOMESSI
Messi eventually let go of the trophy to allow Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez grab his picture with itCredit: TWITTER
Angel DI Maria grinned like a Chesire cat as he held the iconic trophyCredit: Instagram @angeldimariajm
Messi has seldom let the trophy leave his side in the last few hours, so much so he griped it tightly on Argentina’s flight back to Buenos Aires.
The 35-year-old posted a picture of himself holding the trophy on the plane to his Instagram on Monday afternoon.
And he was inundated with comments from his near 400 million followers, one of whom said: “Let’s go, champ.”
Another said: “The best ever!”
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And another said: “Greatest of all time.”
One remarked: “The best in the world.”
Another chimed in: “The greatest player of all time.”
One said: “The greatest.”
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Another of Messi’s loyal followers said: “Immortalised.”
Messi, eventually, let his team-mates get a shot at holding the trophy at 30,000 feet.
Former and current Manchester United stars Angel Di Maria and Lisandro Martinez also posed with the iconic golden trophy while they soared in the sky.
Aston Villa stopper and extra-time hero Emi Martinez – who made an incredible save to deny the French a last-gasp victory – also posed with the trophy.
An over-the-moon Messi reacted to the historic victory on Instagram a few hours after the thrilling match.
Along with a series of snaps of himself holding the trophy, he 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.
Aston Villa stopper Emi Martinez made sure the trophy was safe by putting a seatbelt on itCredit: INSTAGRAM@EMI_MARTINEZ26
The former Arsenal keeper looked loving at the trophy as he cradled itCredit: INSTAGRAM@EMI_MARTINEZ26
Messi shut down the prospect of international retirementCredit: REX
“We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.
“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.”
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Messi teased international retirement ahead of Qatar 2022 but has since performed a U-turn, telling TyC Sports: “I am not retiring from the Argentina national team.
“I want to continue playing as a champion.” More

LIONEL MESSI cemented himself further as a footballing legend by becoming the first Argentine to lift the World Cup since Diego Maradona. The PSG superstar helped end his nation’s agonising 36 year wait to bring the gold home.

Messi is the first Argentine to captain the side to glory since MaradonaCredit: AFP
Messi scored twice in the 3-3 final draw with France and netted in the shootout Argentina eventually won.
Afterwards, he recreated the famous shot of his idol Maradona lofting the trophy in the air.
The pair of left-footed icons are among the greatest sports stars to ever live, boasting almost unmatched records.
On the international stage, both now have a World Cup winners medal, almost four decades apart.
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But what Messi also has is a Copa America trophy to his name, which he won last year.
In his 172 Argentina games, he has scored 98 times which averages at around a goal every other game.
Meanwhile, Maradona retired with 34 in his 91 matches, just over a goal every three games.
At club level, Messi established himself with Barcelona, before infamously leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
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During his 17 years at the Nou Camp, he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances.
At Barcelona, he won ten LaLiga titles and four Champions League-winning medals.
His scoring form with PSG has suffered slightly, with only 23 in 53 games but he has Ligue 1 and French Cup-winning medals to go with it.
Overall, Messi has won 39 trophies during his career, compared to Maradona’s 11.
The midfield maestro – who died in June – won the Argentine league in 1981 with Boca Juniors before moving to Barcelona.
In Spain, Maradona won three domestic cups, helping him sign for Napoli in Italy.
There, he won the league title twice as well as two domestic trophies and a Uefa Cup.
Maradona’s total numbers of club goal and appearances are disputed, but it is widely reported as 259 in 490 games.
As individuals, Messi has a record SEVEN Ballon d’Or wins to his name.
Maradona was never eligible for the prize, because at the time it was only available to European players playing in Europe.
Eventually, Fifa merged their Player of the Year award with the Ballon d’Or.
Maradona in 2000 won Fifa’s Player of the Century and was in 1995 handed a Ballon d’Or for services to football.
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His talents took him to management, working with Messi while in charge of the national team.
And 12 years later, Messi emulated his great idol by lifting the World Cup aloft in celebration.
Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup replicating his idol Diego MaradonaCredit: Getty
Diego Maradona won the World Cup in 1986 More