The 2022 FIFA World Cup was filled with stunning goals, fairy-tale storylines and an epic finale between two of the best players in the world. From Morocco’s dream run to Lionel Messi’s last dance, Qatar 2022 was one of the most memorable tournaments in recent history, and as the tournament draws to a close, we take a look at some of our best moments from the FIFA World Cup.
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The best player at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has to be Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old produced arguably the best performance by a player at the tournament since Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, single-handedly dragging Argentina to the title with his genius. Messi added seven goals and three assists in Qatar and became the first player to score a goal in every knockout round of a single World Cup.
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Enzo Fernandez completely revitalised the Argentina midfield after finding his way into the starting XI in their final group match against Poland and was a vital cog for the South Americans as they won their first World Cup title in 36 years. The 21-year-old scored a screamer against Mexico in the group stages and delivered a performance for the ages in the final against France, making the most successful passes (77) and tackles (10) to help Argentina lift the trophy. The Benfica midfielder was also named the young player of the tournament for his efforts, and his performances in Qatar would have caught the attention of every single major club in Europe.
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Sofyan Amrabat embodied the collective heart and quality shown by the Atlas Lions at this World Cup. The Fiorentina midfielder was incredible at the base of midfield for Morocco, helping break up the play and screen the defence while also initiating the attacks with his diverse passing range and ball-carrying.
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Considering the skill, moment, and situation, the best goal of the tournament at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was Kylian Mbappe’s sublime volley against Argentina in the final. Mbappe’s goal will live long in the memory as one of the most iconic strikes in World Cup history as his effort drew France level at 2-2 to send the tie to extra time. Just 97 seconds after scoring a penalty, Mbappe doubled his tally with an unstoppable volley past Emiliano Martinez that brought France back to life in the final and set up one of the most memorable World Cup finishes of all time.
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The quarter-finals between Argentina and the Netherlands and Croatia and Brazil were some of the most memorable matches in recent World Cups, but nothing can come close to the incredible drama and tension of the final. Argentina and France battled in a game for the ages at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, with the South Americans beating the defending champions 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 120 minutes that saw the teams tied at 3-3.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe graced the grand finale with once-in-a-lifetime performances for their respective sides, adding to their legacy at the showpiece event of this World Cup to produce one of the most memorable footballing occasions of the 21st century. Mbappe became just the second player in history to score a hat-trick at a 2022 FIFA World Cup final, while Messi finally conquered his final frontier and lifted the one trophy that has eluded him his entire career.
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
ML Sports