DOHA: Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory on Sunday, scoring twice against France in one of the all-time great finals with the South Americans holding their nerve to triumph in a penalty shootout.
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career by claiming football’s biggest prize with a performance that will go down in World Cup history, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
France had fought back from 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to equalize and force extra time in a pulsating match watched by an 89,000 crowd in Lusail Stadium.
Messi seemed to have decided the match in extra time with his second goal of the game before his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick to bring the score to 3-3 and force penalties.
Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick to win the shootout 4-2 for Argentina — but this was Messi’s moment.
He had tasted bitter defeat in the 2014 final against Germany but in his fifth and final World Cup, the 35-year-old finally emulated Argentina idol Diego Maradona by leading his nation to World Cup glory for the first time since Maradona’s victory in Mexico City in 1986.
Tens of thousands of blue and white-shirted Argentina fans rose to salute Messi as he told them “we’re champions of the world!” on the stadium microphone.
Later he told Argentine television: “Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can’t ask for any more.
“My career is coming to end because these are my final years. What more could there be after this?“
But he said he would continue with the Argentina squad. “I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,” he added.
FIFA will be delighted with a pulsating final that capped one of the most controversial World Cups in history, with the Qatari organizers having to face persistent questions about the country’s treatment of migrant workers and its laws on homosexuality.
Neutrals will be happy that Messi has finally won a World Cup. However, with his hat-trick — and the Golden Boot for top scorer at the tournament with eight goals — Mbappe surely showed he is ready to inherit the mantle of the world’s best player.
Argentina, now three-time world champions, dominated the first half of the final as Messi scored a 23rd minute penalty after Ousmane Dembele tripped Angel Di Maria.
The mercurial Messi was then part of a superb move that led to Di Maria sweeping home Argentina’s second goal after 36 minutes.
They appeared to be cruising to a straightforward victory as France, who had battled a virus in their camp in the past few days, were completely overrun.
But the defending champions finally got back into the game in the second half as Randal Kolo Muani was dragged down by Nicolas Otamendi in the penalty area and Mbappe converted from the spot with only 10 minutes left.
A minute later, Mbappe scored a superb volley to bring France level.
In extra time, Messi forced a diving save from French keeper Hugo Lloris in the final minutes and Lautaro Martinez could have put Argentina ahead but Dayot Upamecano superbly intervened to snuff out the danger.
Messi knocked in the rebound when Lloris parried Martinez’s saved shot in the 108th minute to give Argentina the lead once again.
But when Mbappe’s shot hit Montiel’s outstretched arm, the referee pointed to the penalty spot to the Argentinians’ disgust and Mbappe stroked it home to become the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966.
A superb match went to penalties and Montiel scored the decisive spot kick to win the shootout 4-2.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who saved Kingsley Coman’s attempt in the shootout, said the victory was “destiny.”
“All that I have dreamed of has been achieved. I have no words for it. I was calm during the penalty shoot-out, and everything went as we wanted.”
France coach Didier Deschamps rued the failure to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.
“I don’t want to take any merit away from Argentina but there were lots and lots of emotions and it was cruel at the end because we were so close,” he said.
‘Sheikh’ Messi leads Argentina to World Cup win in Doha
https://arab.news/654u6
‘Sheikh’ Messi leads Argentina to World Cup win in Doha
- Captain scored twice, France striker Kylian Mbappe hit hattrick as thrilling World Cup final finished 3-3
- Tens of thousands of Argentina fans rose to salute Messi as he told them “we’re champions of the world!”
’Flag can fly’ as Russia wins first Paralympic medals in 12 years
- IPC has allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries
- Voronchikhina said: “For us it’s been a really long time when we were without a flag
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy: Russia won its first Winter Paralympic medals since 2014 on Saturday as Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev claimed bronze in the women’s and men’s downhill standing events in Cortina.
Despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed six Russian athletes and four from their allies Belarus to represent their countries, accompanied by their national flags, rather than competing as neutrals.
The move sparked a backlash with Friday’s opening ceremony being boycotted by seven countries, including Ukraine, and the Russian delegation was booed by some spectators in the Verona Arena during the athletes parade.
Speaking after winning her nation’s first medal since the 2014 Games in Sochi, 23-year-old Voronchikhina said: “For us it’s been a really long time when we were without a flag.
“I’m really glad and all my country and all my teammates also.
“I’m very happy because it’s the first medal for me.”
Russia was banned from the 2018 Games due to a doping scandal, although some athletes were permitted to compete under neutral colors.
Russia and Belarus were then banned from the 2022 Paralympics following the invasion of Ukraine, although they were permitted to compete as neutral athletes in the Paris Summer Paralympics two years later.
Four years ago,
Voronchikhina said that four years ago in Beijing, she was ready to compete before Russia was suspended by the IPC.
“In Beijing we were there,” the Paralympics debutant said. “I had third training in downhill and after we (had to) go back home.
“For me it was really, really sad and I hope in these Games I will be better and it will be.”
Later on Saturday, three-time gold medallist Bugaev picked up the eighth medal of his Paralympic career as he finished third in the men’s downhill standing.
“It was a difficult medal, I would say, even one of the most difficult of my career,” he said. “But I am very happy that I can represent my country again.”
The 28-year-old added: “It’s nice when you’re not deprived of anything, not restricted, not forced to not reveal yourself, like it was in Korea (2018) for example, when they combined the two colors of our flag.
“We’re just happy that we can compete here on equal terms. And even more so to bring home a medal so that the flag can fly.”
Both Voronchikhina and Bugaev received a polite smattering of applause from the crowd at the bottom of the Olympia delle Tofane piste as their medals were placed around their necks during the podium ceremonies.
At least one Russian flag was held aloft in the stands to greet their success.
