In the most dramatic, nerve-shredding way imaginable, Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup and, with it, cemented his investment in the pantheon of soccer greats alongside Diego Maradona and Pelé.
The last was as good as soccer gets—a fit for the ages with a fairytale ending.
Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the game’s two superstars, went toe-to-toe in the top World Cup final. Soccer may be a team game, but this was a prize fight between two players who will be remembered as all-time greats.
Mbappé scored a remarkable hat trick, making him the second man ever sold to do this in a World Cup final. He won the Golden Boot – awarded to the tournament’s top scorer – but fell agonizingly short in his effort to withhold the trophy for France single-handedly.
Aged just 23, Mbappé’s astonishing performance further confirmed his status as the continuing future of the sport. He has scored four goals in World Cup finals, the most of any player ever sold, and he’s level with Pele on an overall total of 12 World Cup goals. He has time to surpass all-time World Cup scorer Miroslav Klose on 16.
But for the history Mbappé created on an intoxicating floodlit night in Doha, this was Messi’s final. The Argentine captain wasn’t ready to hand the torch just yet.
The 35-year-old was relentlessly brilliant throughout this tournament, having fun with a steely grit and determination that stemmed from an innate belief that a trophy was his destiny, a glorious World Cup farewell written in the stars.
After Gonzalo Montiel rolled in the winning penalty, Messi sank to his knees and buried his face in his hands. The minute he had always dreamed of was finally here.
His teammates flocked to him, sinking to their knees to embrace their captain; they’d desired to win this just as much for him as for themselves.
Together, they stood and went towards their adoring fans to join the celebrations. Around 40,000 Argentine fans were estimated to own traveled to Qatar and were vociferous in their support throughout the tournament.
The players had the Argentine flag draped over their shoulders and tied around their waists, jumping together with the wall of white and blue shirts in the Lusail Stadium’s main stand.
They must be patient and endure their share of heartbreak since last winning the World Cup in 1986, but it was worth the wait.
Messi vs. Mbappe
Messi sprang alive inside 3 minutes at the Lusail Stadium, picking the ball up in a pocket of space between France’s midfield and defense and instantly pinged a baseball wide left into the trail of Angel Di Maria.
It led to the game’s first chance – with Messi also involved again in the build-up, exchanging quickfire passes on the edge of the box – but last-ditch defending and the linesman’s flag prevented Julian Alvarez from getting a clean look.
It’s no secret that winning the World Cup with Argentina has been Messi’s lifelong dream, bordering on an obsession.
Though there is undoubtedly that, at 35 years old, Messi is slowing down his near-superhuman powers beginning to diminish; there have still been several moments only at that World Cup of the absurd, magical brilliance that fans have been used to seeing over the years.
His goal against México and the assists against the Netherlands and Croatia is undoubtedly among his most memorable in an Argentina shirt. He helped drag this team to the final, giving the small magician one last opportunity to win the trophy he craves the most.
In the 23rd minute, Messi got the opportunity to help cement his name ever sold with another career-defining moment after Ousmane Dembélé’s s clumsy foul had brought Di María down inside the penalty area.
Messi then stepped up to take the location kick, becoming the only man to score in the group stage, the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final of a single World Cup, by Opta. Messi finds another whenever you think there can be no further records for him to break.
He is also the second-oldest player to score in one last, and with his 26th World Cup appearance, no male player has played in as many World Cup games. His performances also earned him the Golden Ball, the prize for the tournament’s best player.
For all his remarkable, ludicrous abilities, penalties are the one central area of the game that Messi has struggled with through the years, missing several on huge occasions.
However, that did not affect his confidence as he stepped up and calmly rolled the ball into the corner, sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way.
He played a part in Argentina’s exquisite second, sparking the counterattack that led to Di María’s goal with a beautiful little flick nearby to Julián Álvarez.
Messi was even joining in with Argentina’s defensive duties, tracking back and picking the pocket of Randal Kolo Muani, who’d been due to Didier Deschamps in a surprise early double substitution before halftime.
Even the most ardent, optimistic Argentina fan couldn’t possibly have dreamt of a first half nearly as good – and straightforward – as that from Messi and his teammates.
It seemed impossible that this was precisely the same team that was stunned by Saudi Arabia in the opening group game – an efficiency so lacking character and heart that it left many wondering whether Argentina would even make it out of the group.
On the brink
But as the tournament progressed, Argentina and Messi improved.
With each passing performance, each moment of Messi magic, fans had started to believe that the script had recently been written, that the boy from Rosario would end his World Cup career – he said that this might be his last – in the maximum way imaginable. Few, however, may have predicted this kind of thrilling finale.
As the second half continued, Argentina fans within the stadium, and the tens of millions more watching worldwide, could have grown ever more confident that this would become a routine victory, the culmination of a lifelong dream.
As brilliant as Argentina had been, however, France had been quite as disappointing. Per Opta, it was initially since 1966, when stats began to be collated, a team had failed to join up a shot at goal in the initial half of a final.
It was a historically bad performance from France and Mbappé. Until it wasn’t, that is.
In the space of 90 improbable seconds, France originated 2-0 down seriously to tie the game, and, in possibly the most predictable twist ever, it was Mbappé who struck twice.
The first was a low penalty, drilled with only enough capacity to nestle into the underside corner, despite a hand from Emi Martinez. The second was a stunning volleyed finish after receiving a get-back pass from Marcus Thuram.
It was a cruel twist of fate for Messi, as he was responsible for giving the ball away that led to France’s equalizer. After dragging his team to the brink of immortality, Messi’s mistake proved he was indeed mortal.
Yet, there is more to come.
Messi got his moment, his second goal, tapping in after Lloris had saved from Lautaro Martínez’s strike – it was Messi’s 98th goal in an Argentina shirt, and it was without question his biggest yet.
Nonetheless, France, and more specifically Mbappé, were not done.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward stepped up after Montiel had blocked his together with his arm and buried his second spot kick to take this quite remarkable final to penalties.
It was fitting that both Messi and Mbappé scored their penalties after producing one of the greatest duels this sport has seen. Still, more heroics from Martinez in the Argentina goal ensured Messi lifted the trophy.
As soon as he was old enough to kick a ball, Messi’s greatest desire has visited win the World Cup with Argentina. It was never likely to be straightforward, but through sheer force of will, he’s finally realized his lifelong dream.
