It was the World Cup for Lionel Messi (35, Paris Saint-Germain), by Messi, and for Messi. Messi had a perfect coronation ceremony in the last World Cup of his career and was reborn as ‘the only god in the football world’.
Argentina, led by Messi, drew 3-3 for 120 minutes before and after extra time in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar final against France held at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on the 19th (Korean time), before winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout. won with After winning the 1986 Mexico Tournament, Argentina became world champions in 36 years.
News of Messi’s hamstring injury came out ahead of the final. However, he started and flew in the final. Messi, who scored the opening goal with a penalty kick, scored multiple goals in the third minute of the second half of extra time.
France’s momentum was also not easy. With Killian Mbappe (24, Paris Saint-Germain), who wrote a hat-trick, he pursued Argentina to the end. Messi was the first kicker with the most burden in the penalty shoot-out and led the team to victory by clearing the net. Even at the age of 35, it was significant that Messi, who is in the ‘Divine Realm (神界)’, achieved his great achievement by defeating Mbappe, who would take over his baton.
Messi, who was the last member of the Argentine team to stand on the podium at the World Cup, lifted the championship cup wearing the ‘Visit’, the traditional royal costume of Qatar. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Qatari monarch (Emir)’s black gown with gold lines on Messi gave off a ‘coronation’ atmosphere.
The World Cup in Qatar started with Messi and ended with Messi. Messi, who shone from the group stage, opened the opponent’s goal in all four tournament matches, including the round of 16 against Australia. Selected as the Best Player of the Match (POTM) five times, he scored 7 goals and 3 assists in this tournament, ranking second in points and first in assists. The Golden Ball (the tournament’s best player) was naturally embraced by Messi.
Records were also poured. Messi became the first player to win the Golden Ball twice since its inception in 1982. In his 26th World Cup match, Messi surpassed Lothar Matheus (Germany) to break his all-time record for most appearances. With a total of 21 offensive points (13 goals and 8 assists) in the World Cup, he became the player involved in the most goals in World Cup history since 1966, when related statistics were compiled.
The most meaningful thing is that he achieved his long-cherished wish with his own strength. Messi, who has won numerous honors, including seven Ballon d’Or, ten Spanish Primera Liga titles, and four UEFA Champions League titles, has only one weakness: not having a World Cup trophy. Messi has repeatedly heard the bitter cup in the previous four World Cups. In particular, in the 2014 Brazil tournament, they lost to Germany with the championship on the verge of winning, promising the next one. Messi laughed at the end of the competition where he declared ‘Last Dance’. 토토
With the victory in this Qatar tournament, the ‘Meho War’ (Who is better between Messi and Ronaldo) has ended. This is because the moves of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (37) were different. Ronaldo, who scored a penalty kick in the first match of the group stage against Ghana, has not been able to break the net once. Eventually, immediately after the third game against Korea, the public opinion of excluding the selection increased, and Ronaldo started both tournament games from the bench. As a result, his family and girlfriend made noise, such as helping each other on SNS (social media). The rivalry between the two, which has been going on for more than 15 years, ended with Messi’s perfect victory starting at the World Cup in Qatar.
He was able to gain the upper hand in the ‘GOAT (The Greatest Of All Time)’ debate. His skills are by far the best, but Pele (Brazil) and Diego Maradona (Argentina) were insurmountable mountains for Messi who did not win the World Cup. Messi, who has maintained his peak for more than 15 years, has always been smaller in front of the question of ‘who is the greatest player’ because of the World Cup.
It’s different now. Liverpool legend and England national team member Jamie Carragher released the ‘GOAT’ leaderboard, with Messi at the top. Maradona and Pele were behind them. There are still many opinions in this debate, but it is clear that Messi has been standing shoulder to shoulder with his seniors starting from this championship.
Messi, who finished the last World Cup of his career with a happy ending, said, “I knew God would give it to me. She had a feeling it was going to be like this. This is the trophy I’ve wanted all my life. It has been a dream since I was young,” he said. “I will not retire from the Argentine national team. I want to continue the experience of playing the game as a world champion.”