FIFA Men's World Cup

Messi: "I wanted to close my career with this, I can no longer ask for anything else"

LUSAIL, Qatar - As fireworks exploded and some 80,000 people roared, Lionel Messi smiled. His Argentina soccer shirt covered by the bisht the Emir of Qatar had just draped him in — the cape reserved for top officials and sheikhs. He smiled, he paused, then he hoisted high the World Cup, a lifetime’s dream realized.

For all the accolades, all the awards, the riches, titles and silverware, there had been one stain on his career resume, and it was one he erased forever on a magical World Cup night for Argentina.

Hat-trick y récords en la final del mundo – Kylian Mbappé se proclama como el heredero al trono

Francia se quedó con las manos vacías y sin poder convertirse en el primer bicampeón del mundo desde la Brasil de Pelé, luego de caer en penales frente a la Argentina del gran Lionel Messi.

World agrees that we've just witnessed the greatest World Cup final ever

For nearly 80 minutes it looked like the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final was going to be pretty straightforward. Lionel Messi and Argentina had dominated France and taken a 2-0 advantage, but Kylian Mbappé turned the game on its head over the final 10 minutes to force a thrilling extra-time period before a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.

In the end, it was undeniably the greatest World Cup final in the event's history. Argentina had played some thoroughly enjoyable football with 10 shots on target, but France made them suffer to earn a first title 1986.

Las selecciones con más títulos en la Copa del Mundo

Argentina rompió la sequía que traía desde 1986 y obtuvo la tercera Copa del Mundo de su historia, luego de vencer a Francia en la final de Catar 2022.

Argentina breaks the record for most penalty kicks awarded to one team at a World Cup

Argentina made history during the 2022 World Cup Final as they were awarded their fifth penalty kick of the tournament. The previous record was shared by the Netherlands in 1978 and Portugal in 1966 with four penalty kicks each. With his subsequent goal, Messi now is level on four goals with Eusébio and Rob Rensenbrink having scored the most penalty kicks in a single tournament. 

Emiliano Martínez shimmies, saves and secures Argentina’s World Cup with vital saves at the end

Emiliano Martínez didn’t have a single shot come toward his goal until the 71st minute. From that moment on he became one of the key figures in Argentina’s 4-2 penalty shootout victory vs. France in the World Cup final after the game finished 3-3 at the end of extra time.

Martínez was one of the most polarizing characters at the 2022 World Cup. His haters despise him for his gamesmanship, taunting and excessive celebratory body gyrations. Martínez’s critics have one other thing to deal with: he’s a DAMN good goalkeeper.

The GOAT: Messi delivers World Cup to Argentina with defining performance in final

It was Lionel Messi's World Cup. With almost 80 minutes gone in Sunday's final and Argentina leading 2-0, the 35-year-old looked destined to lift the trophy while capturing both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball — a clean sweep of everything on the GOAT's World Cup swan song.

Then, in 97 seconds of Kylian Mbappé-inspired madness over the 80th and 81st minutes, France pulled level with Messi's PSG teammate scoring from the spot before unleashing a 15-yard side-volley for the equalizer. 

Messi cumple su sueño y Argentina es campeón del mundo

Lionel Messi consiguió su sueño: ser campeón del mundo.

El "10" lideró a Argentina ante Francia en la final de Catar 2022, acaso la mejor final en la historia de los mundiales.

Y no es exageración. 

El partido tuvo polémica, una remontada increíble, tiempos extras lleno de suspenso y una definición desde los 12 pasos que dejó a más de 3.500 millones de personas – si creemos las proyecciones de la FIFA – con el corazón en la boca.

World Cup final starting XIs: Ángel Di María makes surprise start for Argentina

LUSAIL, Qatar - Ángel Di María is starting for Argentina in their World Cup final clash against France as coach Lionel Scaloni opted for a 4-3-3 formation on Sunday.

Di María, who has not started since the group phase and played only eight minutes in the quarterfinal victory against the Netherlands, is on the right flank of attack, with Lionel Messi set to become the player with most appearances at the World Cup finals (26).

Croatia tames Atlas Lions of Morocco with 2 sublime goals in third-place playoff

The FIFA World Cup third-place playoff always takes place under the shadow cast by the next day's monumentous final, but they have a tendency to entertain as two losing semifinalists unshackle themselves from pressure and anxiety to secure bronze for proud footballing nations.

Saturday's third-place playoff didn't disappoint as Croatia and Morocco, after both failing to score in the semis, exchanged goals in the opening 10 minutes before Mislav Oršić put the Checkered Ones ahead before halftime with a stunner that proved game-winner.

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