Dream goal and tears in the World Cup final
Messi suffers ‘loss of leg’ ahead of cheesiest coronation
By David Needy, Doha
12/18/2022, 9:38 p.m
Lionel Messi experiences a crazy coronation as football king. When the kitsch is already prepared, Kylian Mbappé destroys the show in three ways. But Messi always has a brilliant response in this rollercoaster ride and fulfills a dream for all of Argentina – despite a bizarre ‘loss of a leg’.
It’s getting dark. A light show. Then he comes. The moment half the world has been waiting for. Already so long. The moment that redefines a great football career. heaves you into new spheres. As the last of the Argentine national team, Lionel Messi strides slowly onto the podium. Loud chants echo from the stands at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, and bows can be seen. Messi gets a traditional coat thrown over his shoulders, rubs his hands – and fulfills a long-held dream for himself and his homeland by raising the World Cup trophy into the evening sky.
It’s a moment that will go down in the history books. But not just because Messi crowns himself the ultimate king of football. Because it’s the greatest moment in the outstanding career of one of the best footballers in the world. But because the way there is the wildest rollercoaster ride that World Cup history has ever experienced in a final. Because the anointing of the king is so incredibly dramatic and far too kitschy in the end. In this last of all chances Messi to rise to the Olympus of football.
The 64th minute is running. The Albiceleste leads easily 2-0 against harmless French. Everything seems made for the perfect triumph. For the coronation of Lionel Messi I. The ten put his stamp on the game, scoring a goal himself and initiating one. He dominates the game of a dominant Argentine team. Soon he will receive the 36.8 centimeters long and 6.175 kilos piece made of 18-carat gold. Everyone on site is sure of that. Messi will climb to the same level as legend Diego Maradona and finally become the unforgettable icon of his homeland himself.
Peculiar ‘loss of leg’ Messi
But not so fast. Not with this World Cup final. Not with the suddenly awakening French and the incredible Kylian Mbappé. How much drama and tragedy can you pack into a game? The answer is yes! Because when whirlwind Ángel di María, who previously caused a sensation and completed a dream counterattack with a goal (more on that in a moment), is substituted in the 64th minute, the Argentine game gets a break. And that also has to do with the later king.
Because in the 82nd minute Messi suffers a strange “leg loss”. That’s always bad in football, which is mainly played with legs and feet. What happened to the future king? A one-legged man on the throne? No, it won’t be that bad after all. But after Mbappé’s goal from the penalty spot (Otamendi puts down Frankfurt’s Kolo Muani), the PSG star frittered away the ball and temporarily became a tragic figure because Kingsley Coman, who had just come on as a substitute, stole the ball from him robustly but fairly on the center line. Marcus Thuram then plays a one-two with Mbappé in the penalty area. The other PSG striker volleys inimitably – and humorlessly hits the ball into the far corner to make it 2-2. Wow. The Argentinian newspaper “Clarín” sees a “legless national team”.
Where did it go, Messi’s leg? He stands in the center circle and even has to laugh briefly out of sheer desperation. Does his dream burst in a dramatic way? For the first time, the Argentinian fans at the Lusail are quiet. Do your knees become weak now, if they are still there at all?
There are a number of reasons to celebrate beforehand. Messi and Co. conjure up a show on the final lawn. First, old master Di María dribbles past Dembélé. A slight contact is enough, the Argentine falls. And Messi, of course, stays cool from the penalty spot, loading keeper Hugo Lloris and pushing in the bottom right. He throws himself on the ground and celebrates his 12th World Cup goal, his teammates crush their boss. your soul. At the end, Di María lifted Messi up in the air again with a hug that lasted almost half a minute. The two have been through a lot together in the national team and finally want the greatest of all triumphs.
One of the most beautiful goals in World Cup final history
Messi also directs the Argentine attacks, creates space with his turns, but is not attacked particularly closely either. The Albiceleste has a very different body language to Les Bleus, wants it a lot more, sprints and bites. France is just chasing. And next, Boss Messi initiates one of the finest goals in Finals history.
If they lose the ball, France goes into counter-pressing much too slowly and then Argentina puts on a dream counterattack. Four direct ball contacts in a row leverage the left side of the defense of the advanced Équipe Tricolore, every pass is played with the highest precision under the highest pressure. The French are a step too late at every station. It goes like this: Nahuel Molina to Messi, Messi to Julián Álvarez, the Man City man to Alexis Mac Allister. And he keeps track of Di María, who rushes up on the other side and completes the goal to make it 2-0.
What a dream goal. And in the World Cup final. It’s 36 minutes and the scorer is already crying. For joy. His acquisition becomes a stroke of genius for coach Lionel Scaloni as France are far too focused on Messi’s right side. Almost the entire stadium dances into a wild frenzy. Before and after the break, Argentina have a good chance of extending their lead against the French, who are still harmless. These are left behind, but who cares? The game is bagged. The crown for Messi is within reach.
Mbappé destroys the Messi kitsch
think. Mbappé turns on with his furious double pack. But Messi wouldn’t be Messi if he didn’t have an answer to that deep in extra time. Suddenly finds his legs again. In the 109th minute he initiates a shot by Lautaro Martinez himself and then hits the target on the rebound. His pursuit from a short distance is only clarified behind the line. He sinks to his knees, whips the fans in the curve, stretches his arms in the sky again and again. Of course HE becomes a hero. Of course, he does his own cheesy coronation himself. How could it have been otherwise? His golden moment. Unbelievable.
Just. Not so fast. Again Messi has to abort his way to the throne. Mbappé hit the ball in the net for the third time in a hand penalty just nine minutes later. Probably the craziest final in World Cup history upsets everyone. The Argentines throw up their hands in over their heads? Di María is crying on the bench again. What else is there to write?
But like against the Netherlands, Messi and his team prove they can bite. That they always break down, but always get up brilliantly. And so the Argentine captain is the first to score a penalty shoot-out. He scores, France’s nerves fail several times – and the rest is really history.
A “dream” becomes reality
Messi kneels after the final goal on the center circle. Heartfelt hugs and tears with his teammates lasting several minutes follow. You experience a mixture of pure joy and disbelief after this wild ride. Then the whole load falls away, one dance routine follows the next. Messi is handed the stadium microphone: “Let’s go Argentina,” he calls out to the loud chants. At home, thousands are cheering on the streets, the divided country unites at least briefly in the collective football frenzy and forgets corruption scandals and politics.
A nation’s dream has come true. Finally. Argentina is world champion again after 36 years. Like Maradona in 1986, Messi, as the tournament’s best player, elevates his team to the throne with great moments. Messi uses his last chance and completes his career, which is second to none. The little Argentinian celebrates his personal coronation. And to top it all off with a sensational resurgence for the Albiceleste throughout the tournament after the shock of their first game against Saudi Arabia.
Does this make Lionel Messi the best of all time? Is he now better than Cristiano Ronaldo, who “only” won one European championship with the national team? These debates are idle and should be clarified in the comments sections of social media. “Eso es un sueño” is written on a poster in the Argentine curve. This is a dream. Now it is reality. For Messi. For all of Argentina. A moment that will go down in history. Despite a brief “loss of leg”.