World Cup 2022

THE world’s greatest-ever player finally did it, triumphing in the best game of football this planet has ever seen. Or is ever likely to see.Lionel Messi yesterday put a beaming smile on every football fan around the world — young and old — regardless of what club or country they support.
Argentina won the World Cup in the most dramatic finalCredit: Getty
Gonzalo Montiel made no mistake from 12 yardsCredit: Reuters
Messi fell to his knees when victory was confirmedCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe came out on the losing side despite his hat-trickCredit: Reuters
Emiliano Martinez celebrated after saving Kingsley Coman’s penaltyCredit: PA
Messi gave the iconic trophy a kiss before getting his hands on itCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Mbappe held his nerve from the spot for his hat-trick… to send the game to a shootout at the deathCredit: AP
Because as the little man took to the  stage to meet the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to receive his prize, only someone with a heart of stone would not have felt a flicker of emotion and joy.
In a land made rich through oil, Messi finally got his hands on that precious lump of gold that a billion dollars could never buy.
Grinning like a schoolkid, Messi rubbed his hands with glee like he was about to have the meal of his life before the presentation he  always dreamed of actually took place.
He caressed the top of the trophy like  a newborn baby’s head. He did some  dad dancing across the stage to meet his jubilant team before holding aloft the World Cup to kick-start one of the greatest-ever nights back in Buenos Aires.
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The only people on this planet not feeling the love were a few million  French — including Kylian Mbappe.  The brilliant striker had every right to look a bit p****d off after scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final… and losing.
But Mbappe already has one winners’ medal from four years ago and his time will come again. But it will not for Messi.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, like Diego Maradona in 1986, dragged Argentina through this World Cup.
And do not forget, Maradona’s team chucked away a two-goal lead in the final against West Germany before winning 3-2.
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But this game was far more dramatic and complex. Fifa boss Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday that this was the best World Cup ever, yet those sentiments were not shared by everyone.
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But despite obvious issues over the location of this tournament, after this breathless,  roller-coaster which Messi and his mates took us all on, Infantino is probably right.
Equally, both managers — Lionel Scaloni and Didier Deschamps — played a part in allowing their teams to go for the jugular.

Their clever substitutions kept changing  the direction of the game.
And what a result for Scaloni, who has been under all sorts of pressure to deliver.
West Ham fans, who watched him play in a brief loan spell in 2006, will now probably claim they have won the World Cup again.
Ultimately, Argentina held their bottle  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.
Argentina were the better team but you have to feel sorry for France — although maybe not too much — for their bloody-minded determination to stop history taking its path and sending the World Cup back to South America for the first time since 2002.

How important this victory is for the  continent which has been so overshadowed by the big bucks of Europe.
Also, what an absolute shame that, despite all the money wasted by the Premier League, we will never have the chance to see Messi sprinkle his stardust over games.
But that is what Messi has done over these last few weeks. Twisting and turning. Causing havoc with his left boot. Making good players look a bit ordinary.
And he did it again yesterday.
Messi showed nerves of steel, staring out Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, before planting a fine penalty into the corner  after Ousmane Dembele delivered a clumsy  challenge on Angel Di Maria.
And Messi and his team were in  footballing Heaven when the superstar played his part in a brilliant, six-pass move every bit as good as the famous Carlos Alberto goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup.
Messi used the outside of his left boot  for an outrageous pass to Julian Alvarez  and he released Alexis Mac Allister, who continued a run from the back.
The Brighton man’s cross found Di Maria and while it was not the cleanest of  strikes, it was enough to beat Lloris.
Deschamps, panicking, made his changes in the 41st minute. The awful Dembele and Olivier Giroud made way for Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
Uninspiring, France did not even manage  an effort on goal until the 67th minute when Kolo Muani headed wide.
Incredibly, despite all their injuries before the tournament and the virus which hit  players in the last week, Les Bleus finally started swinging punches
Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot to open the scoringCredit: Getty
Messi made his mark as he broke a host of World Cup recordsCredit: Getty
Angel Di Maria finished over Hugo Lloris for 2-0Credit: AP
Argentina were in cruise control at half-timeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Kylian Mbappe’s superb volley made it 2-2Credit: Getty
Kylian Mbappe turned the game on its head singlehandedlyCredit: Getty
Olivier Giroud was furious to be subbed off in the first halfCredit: PA
Tensions were running high towards the end of the 90Credit: Getty
Messi stung Lloris’ palms deep into injury timeCredit: Getty
Lionel Messi thought he had won the World Cup when his finish crossed the lineCredit: PA
Kylian Mbappe send the game to a shootout by completing his hat-trickCredit: AP
They pulled one back through Mbappe’s penalty in the 80th minute when Kolo  Muani was dragged down by Nicolas  Otamendi, who also stuck out a knee.
And, just 97 seconds later, unbelievably, Mbappe scored a stunning, right-footed  volley following an exchange of passes with  Thuram. Remarkably, it all came after Messi lost the ball to Coman.
It seemed Messi had scored the winner in extra time when he scrambled the ball over the line after  Lautaro Martinez’s shot was saved by Lloris.
Yet there was one, final, kick in the  groin for Argentina…
Mbappe scored from the spot again after his shot was handled by Gonzalo Montiel and both teams — losing all sense of nerves — could have won it at the end.
Aston Villa keeper Martinez should forever be remembered for his brilliant save to deny Kolo Muani.
But this day belonged to  talisman  Messi, who set Argentina on their way with the first spot-kick.
It is incredible to think  the magnificent  No 10 lost his opening game against  Saudi Arabia. It is even more remarkable when you consider Messi briefly retired from international football in 2016 because he felt under-appreciated in Argentina.
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Until now, certainly at World Cups, he  has always lived in the shadow of Maradona, the flawed genius.
Messi is different. He is simply a genius.
Martinez guessed correctly and denied ComanCredit: AP
Sergio Aguero joined in the celebrations as he played the drumCredit: PA
Messi hugged his sons after clinching the trophyCredit: Getty
Martinez consoled Mbappe amid the celebrationsCredit: AP
Argentina were roared on to victory by their phenomenal supportCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI fired Argentina into the lead in extra time of the World Cup final… but only just.The Albiceleste found themselves forced into a further 30 minutes after being pegged back by two late Kylian Mbappe goals during a thrilling final.

Lionel Messi squeezes his rebound over the lineCredit: Getty
Argentina celebrate what they thought would be the winnerCredit: Reuters
They dusted themselves down to regain their lead on 108 minutes, and fittingly it was their talisman Messi.
The 35-year-old had already sent millions of fans around the world into raptures by netting a penalty in the first half.
They included his wife Antonela, who was pictured going wild after his first goal.
Messi repeated the trick in extra time, despite nearly being denied by Dayot Upamecano.
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Lautaro Martinez was played through, but saw his shot pawed away by Hugo Lloris.
The rebound fell perfectly to Messi, however, who untidily hacked the ball towards goal.
It just about crossed the line before being hoofed away by the desperate Upamecano.
The linesman initially raised his flag only to swiftly lower it as replays showed Martinez had in fact been onside in the build-up.
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Argentina stars and fans alike were sent into dreamland by the goal… but there was to be another twist in the tale…
With just a few minutes left on the clock a shot by Mbappe struck his former PSG team-mate Leandro Paredes’ arm – with the referee instantly pointing to the spot.
The 23-year-old made no mistake from 12 yards – levelling at 3-3 to send the rollercoaster of a match to a penalty shoot-out.
But Argentina would eventually prevail – with Emi Martinez’s shoot-out antics helping them to a 4-2 win on penalties.

Kylian Mbappe wheels away after making it 3-3Credit: Getty More

KYLIAN MBAPPE was inconsolable on the France bench as he watched Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy.The French superstar became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in the biggest game in football with a stunning treble against Argentina.
Kylian Mbappe pipped Lionel Messi to the World Cup Golden Boot with an outstanding hat-trickCredit: Reuters
But Mbappe was left dejected as Messi went on to win after a penalty shootoutCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe wins the Golden Boot after losing the final
He then netted his penalty in a dramatic shootout – only to see rival keeper Emiliano Martinez save twice to condemn the reining champions to defeat after a 3-3 draw.
Mbappe, 23, went into the showpiece in Qatar level with Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina talisman, Lionel Messi, on five goals in the tournament.
Messi himself had netted twice in the breathtaking final – making it seven goals a piece – when Mbappe was presented an opportunity to level things up in the 118th minute.
And he held his nerve under the highest of pressure to clinch the Golden Boot, and keep his nation’s dreams alive.
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This came following an incredible final which ended 3-3 after extra-time with both players at the heart of the action.
Messi had started the scoring off, putting Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and in the process moved one in front of Mbappe in the race to become top scorer.
Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament in extra-timeCredit: Reuters
Kylian Mbappe was the star of the World Cup final
Angel Di Maria doubled their lead soon after and the South American champions looked on course to win trophy.
But France clawed themselves back thanks to Mbappe with two goals in an exhilarating two minute spell.
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Firstly, he scored a penalty of his own to get his side back into the game before restoring parity moments later with a fine volley.
As a result, he went back in front of Messi in the Golden Boot race.
But Messi looked to have won the World Cup and beat his team-mate to the added prize when he scrambled home 14 minutes into extra-time.
However, Mbappe wasn’t finished there, scoring another spot-kick in the 118th minute to not only take the game to penalties but to earn himself the Golden Boot prize.
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Mbappe and Messi would both score again from 12-yards in the shootout.
But it was Mbappe who was left heartbroken as Messi fulfilled his destiny and achieved World Cup glory at his final attempt. More

YOU won’t see many pieces of braver or quicker thinking in any football match than this – let alone stoppage time in the World Cup final.Argentina’s Cristian Romero wowed fans as he used his THIGH while on the ground to steer the ball to keeper Emiliano Martinez – and avoid a backpass.
Cristian Romero was on his knees to nudGe the ball back to Emiliano MartinezCredit: Reuters
Romero had a huge tussle with France hat-trick hero Kylian MbappeCredit: Alamy
Lively France sub Randal Kolo Muani was inches behind the duo – scenting blood and a dramatic winner.
But Tottenham centre-back Romero was on his knees as he calmly nudged the ball to the outstretched arms of Aston Villa’s Martinez.
That intervention summed up an astonishing climax to normal time.
Lionel Messi’s penalty and assist for Angel Di Maria’s fine strike left Argentina 2-0 up after a dominant first half.
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And France remained second best until Kylian Mbappe notched a late spot-kick and brilliant equaliser.
Social media applauded Romero’s cool head in the most heated of moments.
One fan posted: “Insanely quick thinking from Romero to thigh the ball to Martínez to avoid the pass back – that was underrated.
Another observer asked: “Back pass not a thing any more?”
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That prompted the instant response: “I wondered that too the other day but off the thigh apparently isn’t, which makes what Romero did super intelligent in the circumstances.”
Messi later reacted almost as smartly to put Argentina in front from a rebound early in the second period of extra time.
But Mbappe soon completed his hat-trick from the spot to take the final to a shootout.
That wasn’t enough to prevent Argentina prevailing however, as they ran out 4-2 winners on penalties. More

DAYOT UPAMECANO was pushed back onto the pitch and did NOT celebrate Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser in the World Cup final.France looked dead and buried heading in the latter stages of the game after they trailed 2-0.
Kylian Mbappe celebrated his equaliser but Dayot Upamecano didn’t join inCredit: Reuters
Upamecano runs over to join in the celebrations
Theo Hernandez pushes Dayot Upamecano back on to the pitch
The French stars were fearful of a quick Argentina restart
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria scored in 13 first half minutes to put Argentina on the cusp of glory.
But the holders sprung into life late in the contest.

Firstly, they were given a lifeline when Nicolas Otamendi conceded a penalty that Mbappe swept home.
And then, just 60 seconds later, the PSG star thumped home a stunning volley to bring France back level.
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Having been so quiet throughout the game, Mbappe let his frustration out by celebrating in style.
The entire French team joined him in the corner, apart from one player.
That’s because Upamecano was pushed back onto the pitch by an alert Theo Hernandez.
The reason being, Law 8 states that for play to restart “all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play”.
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So had Upamecano left the field of player, Argentina could have kicked off.
And many fans on social media also worked out why.
One said: “If all players were off the pitch Argentina could’ve restarted play.”
Another chimed in with: “One player has to stay on the pitch so the other team can’t kick off.”
A third said: “Hernandez fully switched on told Upamecano to stay on pitch because Argentina could’ve kicked off immediately.”
Bernardo Silva did the same thing in Portugal’s last 16 clash with Switzerland.
Argentina ran out winners on penalties after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest matches ever played.

After Lionel Messi’s side raced into a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe fired a rapid-fire brace to take the game to extra time.
Messi and Mbappe would then net again in extra time to send the game a shootout where the Argentines won 4-2. More

FANS were in stitches as France’s President Emmanuel Macron celebrated Kylian Mbappe’s vital goal in the World Cup final.The French star stepped up and scored from the spot to give his side hope after they had gone two goals behind against Argentina.
Emmanuel Macron was overjoyed with Kylian Mbappe’s goalCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Watching from the stands was a nervous Macron, who was clearly relieved as Mbappe converted his penalty after Randal Kolo Muani was brought down in the box.
Macron proceeded to jump to his feet and pump his fist in the air in jubilation at the goal.
Fans were quick to discuss Macron’s celebration on social media as one said: “I can’t take any more of Macron’s silly celebrations”.
A second wrote: “Incredible stuff from Mbappé. As an aside, Macron’s celebrations don’t have a patch on Michael D Higgins [Irish president]”.
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A third tweeted: “Lmao Macron looks like such a dweeb in that celebration video”.
A fourth added: “Briefly thrilled for France until I saw Macron’s display”.
A fifth commented: “Gonna need a gif of that Macron goal celebration for some evergreen tweets over the next 6-12 months”.
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Argentina ran out winners on penalties after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest matches ever played.
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After Lionel Messi’s side raced into a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe fired a rapid-fire brace to take the game to extra time.
Messi and Mbappe would then net again in extra time to send the game a shootout where the Argentines won 4-2. More