The Magician Lionel Messi Wins His First World Cup Title
FIFA could not have scripted the 2022 World Cup Final better if they had hired a famous Hollywood writer to write it for them…
The Final was nothing short of awesome, an instant sports classic on the pitch. Lionel Messi scored a hattrick with the opening goal via a penalty kick, a goal mid-game, and another penalty kick to bring the World Cup back home to Argentina. It’s the country’s third World Cup victory having won their first in 1978, and then again in 1986. The game had it all from great plays, overtime, and even penalty kicks. All to end with one of the greatest players in the history of the sport getting his much-deserved very first World Cup Final victory. It was right out of a storybook and they even set some world records in the process!
France did not go down without a fight! The French soccer team found themselves in tough territory early, down two nil after Messi’s penalty kick and a follow-up goal by Ángel Di Maria. But they didn’t give up, they dug in. In the second half, they took control of the match and rallied back late with Kylian Mbappé scoring back-to-back goals for the French, tying the game at 2 to 2. Then the magician Messi scored again and we were all sure the game was over! But, it wasn’t! Kylian Mbappé scored again via a penalty kick, after an Argentinian handball in the box, sending the World Cup Final into overtime. It was nuts! After an overtime tie, the game went to penalty kicks. Where Kylian Mbappé actually scored his fourth goal, setting a new world record of four World Cup Final goals in one game by a single player. Amazing!
In the end, though it would be the expert penalty kick execution of the Argentinians and the amazing goalkeeping from Damián Emiliano Martínez. That would win Argentina their third World Cup trophy. The Argentinianians absolutely dominated the French in penalty kicks and blocked an attempt. Winning the shootout 4-2, giving Lionel Messie his first World Cup victory ever! Even more importantly it cements Messi’s legacy as one of the best athletes of his generation and puts him on par with the likes of Michael Jordan when it comes to worldwide fame and recognition. All in all just an absolute barn burner of a World Cup Final today in Qatar, a truly amazing match. One for the record books to be sure!
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