The World Cup was cemented as the greatest world cup ever, because of the crazy final between Argentina and France that went to penalties after both scoring 3 goals. Both Argentina and France were the favorites to win the final, but France had the edge over the South Americans because of them being relentless in attack! The South Americans had one Trump card and that is Lionel Messi, the Greatest Footballer of All time was on their side and they had nothing to fear. Messi had scored and assisted in all of the knockout stages from Round of 16 to the Finals. Mbappe on the other hand was scoring goals for fun and was neck to neck with Lionel Messi for the golden Boot, both had 5 goals.
The World Cup Final started with the Albiciliste dominating the European Giants, the form of football they played looked like they were bullying the French players on the field. The fullback gave no chance to Dembele and Mbappe to be on the ball, they closed down all the lanes that could get them on ball. Angel Di Maria dribbled last Dembele in the French Box and was clipped by him, this lead to a penalty for Argentina and Messi finished it cleverly. This out Argentina 1 nil up in the final, then the second goal might be the best team goal of the Tournament. Argentina passed from the half way line and Di Maria scored the goal past Lloris. Argentina were 2 nil up in the halftime and the French looked in shambles, Deschamps (French Coach) decided to sub out Giroud & Dembele at the 40th minute! It was a shocking decision and we saw Giroud displaying his anger in the dugout.
The South Americans were having fun with the French till the 70th minute, the French players were yet to have a single shot on the goal in 75 minutes. But a penalty changed the game for France, Mbappe scored it and then France looked dangerous and a pass for Coman led to another sublime finish from Mbappe. The game had changed completely in a matter of 2 minutes! The World Cup Final was alive and the fans were soaring all over the world. The Game went into extra time and Argentina looked calm and collective. A Counter led to Lautaro Martinez shooting at Lloris and the save was deflected towards Messi who finished it with his right foot. Messi had scored the decider, but the game had more. As another hand ball was handed over to France, which was a very dodgy decision as one french player has handball before it reached Mbappe. But France Convertted the penalty and they were level again!
The Drama was just getting crazier and then we saw Kolo Muani getting a one-on-one with Martinez at the last minute, but the Argentinian goalkeeper made the save of the tournament! The game went to penalties, the players were ready to come to terms and end the final at once. All the Argentinian Players scored the penalty, and Coman and Tchouemeni missed theirs which led to Argentina winning the World Cup! You see Lionel Messi falling onto his knees and crying, the adulation of the final was emotional and the south Americans were left in years of happiness. Messi was given a black and Golden robe by Sheikh Emir himself, it was like the King during his coronation and that’s how Messi lifted the World Cup with his Argentinian Teammates.
Peter Drury, the poetic commentator said these words for Messi during the final “He was Beautiful, he was the point of difference. He has always been the point of difference, unparalleled and today maybe there will of course be those who argue. Always be those who debate, and the debate can rage on if you like.
But as he falls in love with the object that his heart most desired, it is hard to escape the supposition that he has rendered himself today The Greatest of All Time” one of the reasons Argentina won the World Cup was because of Lionel Scaloni, the tactical genius who won Argentina 3 major international trophies in 3 years.
Golden Ball Winner (Lionel Messi)
Messi had scored in every knockout game of the World Cup, the final game he had two goals which were very important for the Argentine win. Leo had 7 goals and over 3 Assists which were most by any player in the tournament, the goal against Mexico was a long range goal that changed the whole match and gave Argentina the win. Messi’s performance against Croatia was very good and the assist he made when he shimmied past Gvardiol was praiseworthy, winning 5 man of the match and one in the World Cup Final made Messi the Player of the Tournament and he was handed the most deserved Golden Ball.
Golden Boot Winner (Kylian Mbappe)
Kylian Mbappe was in competition with Messi before the final where both of them had 5 goals, the final went into a crazy mode and Messi scored 2 more and Mbappe bagged a hattrick which put him one goal above Lionel Messi with 8 goals. That’s how Mbappe managed to win the Golden Boot over the Golden Ball Winner Messi.
Golden Globe (Emiliano Martinez)
Emiliano Martinez was a rock for the Albiciliste, he managed to make saves that kept Argentina in the World Cup. How can we forget his heroics during the penalty shootout against Netherlands, and he did the same when he played France in the final. But the best save was when he saved the final shot from Kolo Muani which could have led France to win the world cup in he final minute! That was the save of the tournament and Martinez then managed to save penalties from Coman and Tchouemeni. Martinez is a smart player and he plays mind games with the penalty taker, it’s like when you’re in the box with him, the box keeps getting smaller and smaller. When Martinez won the Golden Globe he celebrated it in a way which was classic Emiliano Martinez!
Best Young Player of the Tournament (E. Fernandez)
Enzo Fernandez was the best young player of the tournament and helped Argentina for the World Cup, his match against Mexico was the best and got him in limelight. He was a menace with Mac Allister and De Paul in the midfield, Enzo always delivered whenever he was on the pitch. That’s the reason he grabbed the Best Young Player of the Tournament Award.
