Messi leads Argentina to 3rd World Cup Victory

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Argentina secured a 4-2 penalty victory over current holders France following a dramatic 3-3 draw to win the World Cup in Qatar.

Following four weeks of winter football in the desert it all came down to one match to determine who would be crowned the 22^nd World Cup Champions at the end of 2022.

The 88,000 Lusail stadium was dominated by the noisy light blue and white fans of Argentina. Even the most passionate of them would have doubted seeing their team make it all the way to the Final following their shock 2-1 opening-match defeat to Qatari neighbours Saudi Arabia in the very same Lusail stadium three and a half weeks earlier.

However at 35-years old, Argentinean Captain and undoubtedly one of the greatest players world football has ever seen, Lionel Messi magnificently led his team back from that early disappointment with subsequent victories over Mexico, Poland, Australia, Netherlands and Croatia.

The Final turned out to be the battle of the number 10s. Messi and Mbapee were both level on five goals each at the top of the 2022 World Cup scoring charts as the Final commenced.

Argentina looked the hungrier of the sides early on. Di Maria was having the freedom of the left side, twisting and turning the French defence inside out. His efforts paid off in the 21st minute when he was taken down in the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Messi stepped up to make it 1-0 to Argentina.

In the 36th minute a sweeping move saw Argentina break forward. Quick balls from Messi to Álvarez to Mac Allister and finally to Di Maria who finished off the beautiful move to make it 2-0 to the South Americans.

It looked like the match was done and dusted as the clocked ticked by with Messi looking relaxed as he relished the prospect of lifting the cup for his country as well as becoming the tournament’s top scorer. However France received a life-line when they were awarded a penalty in the 80^th minute after Kolo Muani was dragged down in the box. Up stepped France’s number 10 Kylian Mbappe to score the penalty to make it 2-1.

Suddenly Argentina looked nervous. Their nerves were then shattered just two minutes later when Messi lost possession of the ball and out of nowhere Mbappe levelled the match with a magnificent volley from the edge of the box.

The match continued on into extra time with chances falling to both teams. However in the 108th minute the little magician Messi had one more trick up his sleeve. The ball fell to him in the six yard box, first attempt saved but no mistake with the rebound, it was 3-2 now to Argentina and both number 10s were level again at the top of the scoring charts.

Surely Argentina wouldn’t let their lead slip again when they were ten minutes away again from victory. But no, another penalty was awarded with four minutes to go following a hand ball at the edge of the box and Mbappe dramatically levelled again. Both teams had great chances at the death to win it in the final few seconds of extra time but the match would be decided by penalties.

Mbapee stepped up first for France and put his side ahead with his third successful spot kick of the night. Messi was next up and coolly rolled the ball into the back of the net

France then missed their next two penalties and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel had the honour of stepping up to slot home his countries fourth successive spot kick to win the title for Argentina 4-2 on penalties.

It was devastating for France who had comeback so well twice in the match from 2-0 down and 3-2 down and in particular very tough on Mbappe who had somehow managed to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final and finished as the tournament’s leading goalscorer but who walked away with a loser’s medal.

In contrast, Argentinean’s number 10 Lionel Messi finally achieved the missing piece of his illustrious career by scoring twice in the Final, converting his penalty kick in the shoot-out and captaining his country to the greatest price in World Football.