Is Messi “better” than Maradona? A report explaining why

In an Arab robe and one arm raised to the air, holding the World Cup, the player, Lionel Messi, champion of the Argentina national team, ended a long career of matches with an exciting victory over defending champions France, in a match that extended after regular time and extra time to penalties.

Messi won his first cup, the third for the Argentines after 1978 and the second in 1986.

The impressive organization that lasted throughout the tournament continued until the closing ceremony, which was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who attended the match to support his team in the distribution of prizes.

Fireworks lit up the Doha sky from Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium in Qatar, where the final was played in the presence of tens of thousands of fans.

Players climbed onto a platform in the shape of the World Cup logo to receive their prizes.

Messi took the man of the match award, while French international striker Killian Imbabé carried the tournament’s top scorer award after scoring a hat-trick in the last match of the World Cup from a splendid strike and two penalties.

Snapshots of Paris and Buenos Aires

And while the French capital has seen rioting and the police have had to intervene to calm the grieving fans over the loss, and sometimes deal with them, the situation was different in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.

Tens of thousands of fans in the capital brought their country’s flags and player photos as they watched a grueling match for nearly two hours, in which their hopes rose and fell again and again with the result frequently changing between the two teams.

The celebration spread to several other Arab and foreign capitals, where Argentinian fans gathered to dance for joy at the victory

Crazy match

The Argentines opened the scoring with Lionel Messi’s 23rd-minute penalty, which temporarily earned him the title of top scorer of the tournament, followed by a splendid goal from Angel Di Maria in the 36th minute. so much so that the Argentines closed the first half with a big lead.

But the second half changed everything, after a penalty scored by Kylian Mbabé in the 80th minute, and a surprise attack goal by the same player a minute after the first goal, so the French leveled the score until the 108th minute. in the second extra time when the Argentine strikers manage to make a surgical attack. One minute Messi ends up inside the French door.

Then Mbappe scored from a penalty kick in the 118th minute, and the Frenchman nearly won with a deadly attack, hit by French substitute Kolo Mwani, and the match ended in a penalty shootout.

Brilliant Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved a French penalty, while the Frenchman missed another kick.

Superstar Messi cape

In a gesture to honor the world star, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad, presented Argentine player, Lionel Messi, with a luxuriously crafted cape (bisht) to wear before carrying the cup, and Messi wore the cape Arab, first raised the cup and went to celebrate it with his team, to show the Al-Arabiya mantle in the historical images of Messi winning the World Cup for the first time, a symbol of an impressive organization that Qatar has knew how to show and maintain throughout the tournament, which has not seen any riots or violations.

Instantly, Arab followers and some foreigners called the Argentine star “Sheikh.”

Sheikh Messi has been crowned best in the world @FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/5vZogkTiz5

— Leah Harding (@LeahHardingAJE) December 18, 2022

Sheikh #Messi

It’s brilliant. Traditional thobe worn during the most important moment in the history of sport. #Qatar I love you. What a moment. Let the world celebrate culture. #Qatar2022 #QatarWorldCup pic.twitter.com/pl0PoAcRq6

— Tam Khan (@Tam_Khan) December 18, 2022

exciting shots

Argentine star Messi appeared embracing his mother, then his wife and children after winning his first cup, in his participation, which could be his last at the World Cup.

Throughout his career, Lionel Messi has captured every major football title, but the World Cup has eluded Argentines since their last victory in 1986, led by Diego Maradona, the Argentine legend who passed away last year.

Photos of Diego appeared in the stands, along with those of Lionel Messi and the Argentine flag.

On the other hand, Killian Mbappe, the player who kept Buenos Aires on his fingertips throughout the match, looked sad after the end of the match after he made a super effort and scored 3 goals in the World Cup match, a an achievement which was only achieved by Sir Keough Hurst, the England player in the match. England beat West Germany 4 goals to 2 in 1966.

And the French president appeared to frown after the end of the game, after being filmed celebrating during France’s three-goal, and embraced his country’s team players in a gesture of condolence.

Argentina and France have already met three times at the World Cup. Argentina won two qualifying group games in 1930 and 1978, but France prevailed in their only round of 16 tie, winning 4-3 in the round of 16 in 2018.