World Cup Briefing: Messi reigns as Qatar shows how it's done

 

Lionel Messi lifts the trophy after a sensational run at the FIFA World Cup that ended with a penalty shootout success against France. (Photo credit: GOAL)

The whole world may have made the finals of the 2022 World Cup about the legend of Lionel Messi and rightly so, as he was adorned with the Arabian Cloak by the highest ranking ruler in the kingdom, one thing that we won’t forget to celebrate is the magic of a tournament that Qatar delivered.

So much was said ahead of the tournament about the moral rights of the Arabian country to host the rest of the world, more so right in the middle of league football season and for the first time over the winter period, it will go down as the best ever World Cup.

From the technology on offer, to the quality football that respected no names, the shock results and ultimately the completion of what was missing in Lionel Messi’s cabinet; Argentina for the first time since 1986 got crowned as world champions after a night to remember on the pitch.

There’s so much to pick from the final but that which matters the most remains the fact that Argentina rose from the ashes of the group stage tragedy that saw them lose to Saudi Arabia, walked on thorns and even had to weather the storm to eventually lift the trophy on Sunday.

France can hold their heads high, they showed grit and resilience to bounce back when it felt like they were picked apart and forced extra time; reintroducing the undisputed heir to the GOAT throne, as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exit the stage, step forward Kyllian Mbappe.

The first player to score a World Cup final hattrick and while his team lost on penalties, his place in the history of the game is forever secured. It’s not a coincidence, his time is now and he will have a whole decade to himself to shine.

The entire Argentine team will remember this tournament for good; from their big character in goal, Emiliano Martinez and the rest of the warriors that fought hard to support Messi, they deserve all the good feeling they have right now.

The world cup is over and we’re back to league football. We must not forget the quality that Qatar offered and they have raised the bar for the next hosts. Football won in the end and when they bring the GOAT debate near you, your answer can be in pictures, of that pocket sized man in an Arabian cloak.