Argentina won their first FIFA World Cup in 36 years on Sunday, thanks to Lionel Messi‘s inspirational performance. Messi scored twice in the final and set multiple records, but he lost the Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappe, whose hat trick nearly derailed Argentina’s party in Qatar.
Messi was once again crucial to his country throughout the tournament. Messi finally won the World Cup in his final World Cup appearance, a trophy that had eluded him for so long during his illustrious career. Following Argentina’s victory, cameras captured an emotional moment between Messi and his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini. Messi’s mother was seen running onto the field, and cameras captured the moment when the 35-year-old turned back in joy and hugged her.
Here is Lionel Messi’s video
Messi's mother comes and hugs him. A mother's pride #FIFAWorldCup #ARGFRA #WorldCupFinal #Messi? pic.twitter.com/OFo6yuR2eg
— Aristotle ? (@goLoko77) December 18, 2022
Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2 after Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick tied the game at 3-3 after extra time. Argentina won their third World Cup after Gonzalo Montiel scored the game-winning penalty, preventing France from becoming the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.
Messi and Mbappe both scored in the shootout, but Kingsley Coman’s next kick for France was saved, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s effort rolled wide. France lost the World Cup final on penalties for the second time, following their defeat to Italy in 2006.
Messi was eventually named Player of the Tournament, and the French star took home the Golden Boot award. Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove award, much to the delight of football fans, capping off Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign.
The victory allowed the 35-year-old Messi to cap off his illustrious career by imitating the great Diego Maradona. Maradona was a key figure in Argentina’s last World Cup victory, which came in 1986.
