FIFA World Cup 2022: Even after the 2018 Russia World Cup, one question remained incomplete. Lionel Messi had won almost everything in club football but the World Cup was still far away. Cristiano Ronaldo also could not leave the impact that was expected on his biggest stage. The biggest incomplete story of the world’s two greatest players was still the World Cup.
World Cup in the Arab world for the first time
The 2022 World Cup was to be held in Qatar. This was happening for the first time in an Arab country. For the first time it was to be played in November-December. Because the temperature in Qatar becomes unbearable in summer. Debates continued for years over the construction of the stadium, the conditions of the workers and the cost of the event. But as soon as the tournament started.
The world’s attention gradually returned to the field and from there began the story that would later be called football’s modern epic. Qatar built eight state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned stadiums. The official ball ‘Al Rihla’ was fitted with a special sensor which transmitted real-time data directly to the VRA.
Saudi Arabia’s shock
One result on the very first day changed the course of the entire tournament. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in what was believed to be Messi’s final campaign. This was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Millions of Argentine fans were horrified. They thought that perhaps Messi’s dream would again remain unfulfilled. With this defeat, Argentina’s unbeaten streak of 36 matches was also broken. Just one step away from Italy’s record of 37 matches.
But great stories are often born out of crisis. After this setback the team rebuilt itself. This time Argentina was not a team based only on Messi. Coach Lionel Scaloni had created a balanced unit. Emiliano Martínez was confident at the goal post, Di Maria brought experience, the new generation of Enzo Fernández and Mac Allister were providing energy. The most important thing is that the entire team was playing with Messi and not for Messi.
Morocco: pride of Africa and the Arab world
France, on the other hand, was the defending champion. Despite injuries, he had great talent and at the top was Kylian Mbappe, who was no longer just a young talent but a fully-fledged superstar.
Meanwhile, Morocco surprised the world. Beat Belgium, eliminated Spain, then beat Portugal. For the first time an African and Arab country reached the semi-finals. This was not just a sporting achievement but a symbol of the changing football world where the monopoly of the old powers was breaking. The goalkeeper of this team called ‘Atlas Lions’ Yasin Bono performed like a wall.
Ronaldo’s departure, Messi’s flight
During this time, Ronaldo’s World Cup journey slowly started coming to an end. The coach began to leave him out of the starting team and after the defeat against Morocco he left the field in tears. The world understood that a great chapter had ended. The end of an era that had ruled football for nearly fifteen years.
On the other hand, Messi’s journey continued to go from strength to strength. Scored the decisive goal against Australia. The quarter-final against the Netherlands was full of tension, controversy and drama. Argentina won in penalty shootout. He gave one of the most memorable performances of his career against Croatia in the semi-finals. His run past young defender Josco Guardiol is still remembered. Argentina reached the final.
On the other hand, France played its second consecutive final by defeating Morocco. The stage was set, on one side was Messi, for whom this was probably the last chance, on the other side was Mbappé, the face of the new generation.
Final: decided for seventy minutes, then everything changed
18 December 2022. Lusail Stadium. The first hour looked like Argentina would win easily. Messi scored a penalty and Di Maria scored the second goal with a brilliant team move. France looked almost silent, with Mbappe barely getting the ball. But great teams do not give up until the last moment. Everything changed after the seventieth minute. Mbappé scored a penalty. Then after a few seconds he scored the second goal with a volley. Within two minutes the score reached 2-2 and the stadium was stunned.
Messi scored again in extra time and the score was 3-2. Felt like the story was complete. But Mbappe scored another penalty and the score became 3-3. By completing a hat-trick in the final, he became the second player to do so after Geoff Hurst in 1966. In the last seconds, France’s Kolo Muani’s intended goal was saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with his legs extended. This is called the biggest save in World Cup history.
Shootout: Thirty-six years of wait is over
The decision was to be taken in a penalty shootout. Martínez saved France’s first penalty. Argentina’s players capitalized on their chances and then came the moment for which the whole of Argentina had been waiting for thirty-six years. The final penalty was successful and Argentina became champions. Messi sat on his knees. Fellow players surrounded him. An emotional wave spread from Buenos Aires around the world. It was not just a trophy but the end of a journey of two decades.
Messi crowned wearing a scarf
Before lifting the trophy, the Emir of Qatar dressed Messi in a traditional Arabic robe called ‘Bisht’. Lifting the trophy in the air in that black-and-gold robe, Messi became the undisputed king of football. He got the ‘Golden Ball’. The first player in history to win this honor twice.
Mbappe: The future wins even in defeat
But the beauty of this story was that there was not one hero. Messi won the trophy but Mbappe won the future. He scored a record 8 goals in the entire tournament and won the ‘Golden Boot’. His hat-trick in the final made it clear where the next phase of football is going. One megastar was completing his journey while the other was presenting his claim on the same stage.
For this reason, many experts consider the Qatar 2022 final to be the greatest final in history. It had drama, talent, emotions, comebacks, history and future together. Rarely have so many layers of football been seen together in a single match.
what’s to come next
The 2022 World Cup will not be remembered just for Argentina’s victory or Messi’s achievements. It will also be remembered for the moment when football bid farewell to one era and welcomed another. The next World Cup will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026 with 48 teams for the first time. Messi may play for the last time, or may be present as a spectator. Ronaldo’s chapter will almost be closed. But new stars like Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Haaland, Vinicius Junior will come out to write their own legacy on that stage.