After 64 matches, 172 targets and among the best finals in historical past, the 2022 World Cup is over.
Argentina is the champion for the third time after beating France in a penalty shootout. Lionel Messi lastly has his arms on the golden trophy that had lengthy eluded him.
Right here’s a take a look at a number of the highlights of the event — and the low factors:
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BEST PLAYER
Lionel Messi gained the Golden Ball because the event’s greatest participant. He has by no means performed higher at a World Cup, scoring seven targets, offering three assists and being Argentina’s star participant in all seven of its matches. He has additionally made a file 26 appearances on the World Cup to interrupt Lothar Matthaus’ file. Messi definitively joins Pelé and Diego Maradona within the pantheon of soccer’s biggest gamers.
BIGGEST FLOP
Contemplating his title and profile, and the drama he had created by an explosive pre-tournament interview, Portugal famous person Cristiano Ronaldo may hardly have had a worse event. OK, he transformed a penalty towards Ghana to change into the primary man to attain at 5 completely different World Cups, however nothing else went proper for the participant presently with no membership. He tried — and failed — to say a headed purpose towards Uruguay, confirmed a foul perspective after being substituted towards South Korea to the annoyance of his coach, then was benched towards Switzerland and Morocco within the knockout stage. He wept after Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Morocco that ended his World Cup profession, and completed the event with solely the one purpose.
BEST GOAL
Brazil striker Richarlison had his again to the purpose when he used one contact to flick the ball up within the air close to the penalty spot, then spun round and leapt off the bottom to ship a spectacular acrobatic kick into the web. It sealed a 2-0 win over Serbia within the group stage and made Brazilians, briefly, neglect in regards to the injured Neymar.
BEST SAVE
There have been 20 seconds remaining of stoppage time in additional time within the ultimate when France striker Randal Kolo Muani went clear by on Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The win, the title, was there for France however Martinez caught out his left leg to maintain the ball out. It was a save as essential as all of Messi’s targets.
BEST MATCH
Argentina was concerned in the perfect two. First, the staff’s quarter-final match towards the Netherlands had all of it — targets, gamesmanship, late drama by a purpose within the eleventh minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2, a penalty shootout, a World Cup-record 17 yellow playing cards and a pink card after the whistle. There was even the sight of Lionel Messi breaking off from his post-match on-field interview to shout abuse at a Netherlands participant: “What are you , silly?” Then got here the ultimate on the identical Lusail Stadium, which could have simply topped it.
MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM
Belgium arrived because the second-ranked staff and with a number of the most well-known gamers on the planet. They scored one purpose, didn’t get out of their group and coach Roberto Martinez left his function. Germany exiting from the group stage for the second straight World Cup is a detailed second.
BEST MOMENT
It’s a crowded subject in a World Cup that includes so many upsets however nothing fairly matches the second the Netherlands blindsided Argentina with an audacious free kick within the eleventh minute of second-half stoppage time of their wild quarter-final recreation to take it to additional time. As a substitute of taking a shot from the sting of the world with just about the final passage of play within the match, Teun Koopmeiners performed a brief go into the center of the world, Wout Weghorst took a contact and held off his marker earlier than slotting residence a end on the stretch.
BEST FANS
Morocco’s for the noise, Argentina’s for the pure ardour, and Japan’s for the way in which they tidy up after themselves.
REVELATION
At 31, Antoine Griezmann reinvented himself as a midfield playmaker for France, having performed as a ahead for his whole profession. He was one of many gamers of the event.
BEST QUOTE
“I had the sensation that this was the one.” — Lionel Messi after profitable the World Cup for the primary time.