[7:12 pm, 22/12/2022] Umar U: FIFA World Cup Final: Messi on the verge of greatness with six records in his sights


DOHA: When his team Argentina plays the defending champions France in the FIFA World Cup final tonight at Lusail Stadium, one of the greatest footballers of all time Lionel Messi will be one victory away from earning the largest prize of his whole career.




Since he had declared his intention to stop representing Argentina after this World Cup, the captain of Argentina has one more chance to make it a memorable one.




Messi's Argentina will strive to secure their first victory after a long gap of 36 years when legendary Diego Maradona led the way, while France will be seeking to become the third side after Italy and Brazil to win consecutive titles.


As the World Cup trophy remains the last remaining piece of his otherwise illustrious career, all eyes are on the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner to complete his collection of medals. However, there are many more records he may establish in the final in Qatar.




Most World Cup victories by a single player:




Messi has already won 16 games in the FIFA World Cup, but if he prevails in today's championship match, he would tie German icon Miroslav Klose for the most victories at World Cups.




The most World Cup appearances:




Regardless of the result of the championship game, Messi will become the player with the most World Cup appearances with 26, overtaking Germany's Lothar Matthaus ( 25 appearances).


Most World Cup minutes played:




With 2,217 minutes played, Italian superstar Paolo Maldini presently owns the World Cup record. Contrarily, Messi has played for 2,194 minutes and needs just 24 more to surpass all other players on this list.




Most world cup assists:




Nine assists have been made by the Argentina striker thus far in World Cup contests. Pele, a superstar from Brazil, is presently in first place with eleven assists. If Messi can help at least two of his teammates score goals in the final game, he will shatter this record.




numerous Golden Ball honours:




Messi is a strong candidate for the Golden Ball with five goals and three assists.


Golden Boot and Golden Ball winners from the World Cup:






The top goal scorer in a FIFA World Cup edition receives the Golden Boot, another significant individual honour. Only seven players in history—Silva (1938), Garrincha (1962), Ronaldo (1998 Golden Ball, 2002 Golden Boot), Paolo Rossi (1982), Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and former Argentina ace Mario Kempes (1978)—have won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.




Messi has to score more goals than his PSG teammate to win the Golden Boot because they are tied with France's Mbappe at five goals each. And Messi will be the first player to accomplish it in the 20th century if he is successful in winning both accolades.

[7:13 pm, 22/12/2022] Umar U: As Messi's Argentina are crowned FIFA World Cup winners, Mbappe's hat-trick is ineffective.


LUSAIL: After the penalty shootout on Sunday at Lusail Stadium, Lionel Messi's goal of winning the FIFA World Cup came true with a thrilling triumph over the reigning champions France.




Argentina's ace Messi, who stepped up at the most critical moment of his career with two timely goals before opening the scoring for his side in the penalty shootout, had a fantastic finale to the nail-biting world cup final.




Prior to Angel Di Maria making it 2-0, Messi had given Argentina the lead from the penalty spot in the first half.


Up until Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the first 97 seconds of the game to send it into overtime, Argentina seemed to have a lock on the victory.




When Messi converted a rebound in the 109th minute, it looked like he had finally put an end to the matter. However, Mbappe scored from another penalty kick to draw the game at 3-3 and force a shootout.




With his third goal of the evening, Mbappe became the first player since England's Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.




In the penalty shootout, Messi and Mbappe continued to fight for their clubs while opening the score with well-placed shots.


The defending champions, however, lost their way when Kingsley Coman's following kick for France was saved and Aurelien Tchouameni subsequently vitally missed the goal, swinging the outcome in Argentina's favour.




Prior to Argentina's world cup-winning penalty kick from Gonzalo Montiel, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes successfully converted their respective penalties.




It's important to note that Argentina won the world championship for the third time overall and for the first time since 1986.

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