Oh, Leo!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful. What an amazing thing to watch him play. Player of the Tournament again, WC winner.
The man, the myth, the legend! The greatest to ever do it, Lionel Messi.🐐🏆✨ #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/HPZHRbi4c4— 📸Suvam (@BlaugranaPhotos) December 18, 2022
Spain 2010 is still the zenith for me in terms of being satisfied. But Messi 2022 comes damn close. Just a shame he wasn't still with Barca.
Some of records Messi has broken or tied this World Cup: - Most G+A in history of World Cup With 2 goals this final, Messi has 21 Goals + Assists in World Cup, suprasses Pele's 20 G+A - Most goals scored in World Cup, Copa, Euro, Africa championship Messi scores 25 goals in World Cup and Copa, ties with Ronaldo Fenomeno 25 goals. - Most assists in World Cup history, tied with Maradona (8 assists) - Most games played (26) - Most games with directly goal involvement (14). - Most games with at least a goal and an assist (4) - The first player to score in GS, RO16, QF, SF and the final since 1986 (when RO16 was introduced). - Most official MOTM (11 times). - Most official MOTM in a single World Cup (5 times). - The only player to win all MOTM in KO rounds (all 4 MOTM). - The first and only one to win World Cup Golden Ball twice, POTT twice. - Argentina's top scorer in World Cup with 13 goals.
So... With the award now presented in August instead of December, can this performance in Qatar carry over long enough for Messi to claim an eighth Ballon d'Or? How much will he need to do with PSG to boost his chances?
Also, highest ever dribbles at World Cup with 125 (Maradona 2nd with 105). And highest ever chances created at World Cup, with 75 (Maradona 2nd with 66).
Not sure who'd win it, but I believe Messi and Mbappe will be in top 3. PSG probably will be divided into South American vs France camp lol
There’s a high chance Messi will win his 5th CL. Messi-Mbappe-Neymar trio are in amazing form and PSG fixed their long term issue which was the midfield. Winning that WC will further boost Messi’s confidence. Mbappe is at his peak and he will be very determined to win the CL title now.
Ballon dor now is a full season award. So yes, World Cup is the biggest boost. Not only he wins it but also wins with style and win in the greatest final in history. 8 ballon dor. Beyond words.
Most major Player of the Tournament awards in NT 4 Messi (WC22, WC14, CA21, CA15) 3 Nasazzi (WC30, CA35, CA15) 2 Ronaldo (WC98, CA97) 2 Zidane (WC06, EU00) 2 Pele (WC70, CA59-1) 2 Seoane (CA27, CA25) 2 Francescoli (CA95, CA83) 1 ...
Not only this tournament but the whole NT-career, the dramatical arc of not being "good enough", retiring, then resurrection like this. Perfect movie material, or series perhaps.
Yep, its even more dramatic than MJ returned and winning another three peat. 18 goals + 6 assists in 2022 for national team, 10 goals contribution at WC, at 35 years old. Bigger stats than his "prime" version.
Messi has 10 goals contribution in this competition while CR has 10 goals contribution across 5 WC. There's no debate needed.
PSG has almost no French players it seems. Only Mbappe was in France's squad at the World Cup. Kimpembe would have been but was injured. Mukiele is a young defender they bought for RB Leipzig this summer for 10M Euros. Ekitike is a young forward on loan from Reims, and their 3rd string goalie is French. I'm sure there could be squabbles amongst the egos but not enough French guys who start to make it France vs. South America. Also tons of Spanish (5) and Portuguese (4) players, plus 2 important Italian players, hard to see all of them on the side of France or South America.