Lionel Andres Messi, a name revered and cemented in the folklore of football. A name celebrated across the world uniting people from diverse nations and backgrounds. The world unanimously is in awe of the diminutive wizard. Messi the greatest football to ever touch a football ball by a country mile has finally consolidated and established his position as the greatest of all time. A feat considered unequalled in its significance, the one trophy that eluded the great man is now his to relish and treasure. A burden of a lifetime released, the prophecy is fulfilled, and the heir to Diego’s throne has finally delivered for his kingdom.
30th of June 2018, FIFA world cup 2018 Quarter-final, a day of dejection, grief, and disappointment for Lionel Messi and his advocates. Argentina had been knocked out by Kylian Mbappe ‘s France, in what felt like Messi’s penultimate opportunity to fulfil his destiny of winning the world cup for his country. His critics and some experts remained adamant and defiant that the void of a world cup would always deprive him of the title of the Greatest of all time. As a football academic, it was always obvious that any observer who had an ounce of football knowledge would dare question Messi's laurels and his place in the game. As regardless of world-cup glory Messi is the greatest of all time because that has been his destiny for being a gift from the footballing gods. There has never been a player with Messi’s quality, finesse, touch, and grace combined with his consistency spanning almost two decades.
Despite his stellar career, Messi had been mocked, ridiculed, and ostracized for his failure to lift silverware on the international stage and most strikingly for being unable to win a world cup with Argentina. The staunchest of detractors were Cristiano Ronaldo Fans, who (CR7) has failed to score a single knockout goal in his entire career at the world cup, thus the argument being hypocritical and frivolous exposing their footballing intellect. Although before the 2021 Copa America Messi had failed to deliver international success for Argentina, what cannot be ignored was that he was already a world cup finalist and winner of the Golden ball in 2014. A feat Ronaldo could never realistically reverie to achieve. Football academicians and experts have unanimously agreed that while comparing his performances with his club, his record for Argentina had been underwhelming. However, 4 Copa America Finals and a world cup final had indeed solidified his position as the world’s greatest for most analysts.
The 2022 world cup has not only established Messi’s stature in football folklore but also silenced his detractors enforcing them to concede and finally admit what was always the truth. While some who were on the fence before, have now publicly acknowledged Messi as the best player the sport has witnessed at least in this generation. For the 2022 FIFA World Cup, even before a ball was kicked the competition was marred with allegations of corruption, the fatalities of migrant workers, and Qatar’s debatable record on human rights. However, once the football began it delivered. Qatar 2022 has been one of the most memorable and Jubilant of the world cups ever. In terms of results, matches, moments, and upsets this world cup has been unrivalled. And, the final chapter of the script was surreal, serendipitous, and most importantly in favour of the little man.
Approaching the world cup 2022, Argentina for a change was one of the favourites to penetrate deep into the tournament. 18 months earlier Messi had lifted the burden off his shoulder by securing the Copa America in 2021 Argentina’s 1 trophy in 28 years. The diminutive maestro has spearheaded Argentina’s success as the tournament’s top scorer, assist provider, and player of the tournament. With Achilles heel settled, Messi appeared more relaxed and serendipitous yet striving to deliver the Golden trophy for his nation. 2022 has been statistically and its terms of performance have been the best international season of his career, at 35 performing out of his skin and at twilight still being the standout player in the sport. Messi arrived at the world cup with 9 goals in three previous games for Argentina, with a terrifying display for his club with 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 appearances, whilst dictating matches from midfield, all at the age of 35. Argentina themselves were in a purple patch coming into the world cup unbeaten in 36 matches.
Argentina's performance and result in the first fixture against Saudi triggered an absolute meltdown, they were drafted by Saudi, and Messi’s faithful anticipated the worst, under mediocre and embarrassing exit and Messi’s destiny being incomplete. The game against Mexico was a knockout, and every game since then has been a knockout, Messi throughout the world cup was sensational producing merits in every game, either scoring or assisting in every game except for one performing at his best at the national level at the age of 35. Messi ended the tournament with 7 goals and 3 assists contributing 10 goals directly in the tournament. Messi scored goals in every knockout game for Argentina, racking a goal in the round of 16, Quarterfinals, semis, and a brace in the final. The final needs no descriptions as any superlatives wouldn’t be justifiable to define the game which without a doubt has been the best world cup final. From Argentina cruising through the game until 80 minutes. Before a moment of madness led to them capitulating the final through. The final had drama, pandemonium, and mayhem in what was a topsy-turvy affair eventually delivering for the humble genius.
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