By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 15, 2022
Lionel Messi confirmed Qatar 2022 would be his final World Cup, after he inspired Argentina to victory over Croatia to set up a last dance on the biggest stage of them all.
Messi scored one goal and helped set up two more for Julian Alvarez as Argentina won 3-0 Tuesday night to give the tournament the final act it has craved.
There were echoes of Diego Maradona in 1986 in the way Messi bamboozled Josko Gvardiol to set up Alvarez for his second goal, as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner gave himself one more shot at the trophy that has eluded him.
Messi, 35, is playing at his fifth World Cup and Qatar was expected to be his final chance to get his hands on the biggest prize in the game.
AFP via Getty Images
There had been some speculation that the Argentina captain could attempt a sixth World Cup in 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But Messi has confirmed that Sunday’s final against either France or Morocco will be the last World Cup match of his career.
Messi said: “I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.
“Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one [in 2026]. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Messi has won four Champions Leagues, 11 top-flight titles and led Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021, but the World Cup is the one glaring omission.
Argentina was beaten by Germany in the 2014 final in Brazil and Messi, who has moved level with Kylian Mbappe on five goals in the race for the Golden Boot here in Qatar, said: “We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now, so that this time it really happens — we really win it.
“I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us. To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup after going 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They should not doubt we are giving absolutely everything.”
Source Sporting Sun
Posted December 15, 2022
You may also like...
Rio 2016: US swimmers ‘fabricated’ robbery report
PSG Keen To Replace Silva With Matip
Son Strikes Again As Spurs Beat Burnley To...
Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Spurs in relentless...
Leeds United Hang On To Win 7-Goal Thriller...
Morocco Bounce Back With Easy Victory Over Burundi...

Chelsea’s Maresca says rotation unavoidable
Joshua makes weight for €100m Paul fight
Osimhen, Iwobi pay tributes to Troost-Ekong
Amorim defends his use of midfielder Mainoo
'Always in my mind to start' - Slot on Salah
Man City won't take risk on 'suffering' Rodri's return
Arsenal's Mosquera could be out for at least six weeks
Iran to attend World Cup draw after boycott threat
Alexander-Arnold off injured in comfortable Real Madrid win
A shadow of his imperious self - Van Dijk fights decline
Newcastle want to be 'top club in world' by 2030
Trump and Infantino - too close for comfort?
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,391 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,632 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,565 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,208 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,181 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,094 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,939 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,522 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,661 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,217 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,607 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,081 views)