La Albiceleste won a tournamentfor the ages, bouncing back from a loss in their debut to claim dramatic victories that included a heated quarterfinal against the Netherlands and a memorable shootout win over France in the final.

Angel Di Maria, who had already scored for his nation inFinalissima, Copa America, and Olympic finals, once again got on the scoresheet in the tournament decider. With the World Cup in the rear-view mirror, Di Maria revealed how Lionel Scaloni motivated him before the final.

Angel Di Maria suggests Lionel Scaloni took subtle dig at Jules Kounde

In an interview with TyC Sports, Di Maria addressed his conversation with Scaloni before the World Cup final. The Juventus winger had missed many games due to injury, but the coach seemed to be confident Di Maria would outplay French right-back Jules Kounde.

“Scaloni told me before the final that I was going to have fun on the left,” Di Maria said, via Roy Nemer of Mundo Albiceleste. While that’s a perfect way to motivate his player, it also impliedthat Kounde wouldn’t be a major obstacle.

Either way, Scaloni’s prediction turned out to be true. Di Maria had a great first half, and neither Kounde nor right winger Ousmane Dembele could stop him. In fact, Argentina were awarded a penalty after Dembele tripped Di Maria in the box.

The USMNT didn’t have a great FIFA World Cup. They managed to advance to the Round of 16, but were knocked out of Qatar 2022 by the Netherlands and of course Gregg Berhalter was tha main target for the critics.

Now, the head coach is being judged by something else. Berhalter, 49, confirmed through a statement that he was blackmailed during the tournament by a person who wanted to reveal something about the coach’s past.

Gregg Berhalter reveals he was blackmailed during the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup

The USMNT arrived to Qatar 2022 with the main objective of staying alive as much as they could. Unfortunately, they were eliminated by the Netherlands in the Round of 16 and quickly returned back home.

After there were some controversial statements from Gio Reyna to Gregg Berhalter, the coach was severely criticized by fans. But now, he is being judged by something he did back in 1991.

In a surprising statement, Gregg Berhalter revealed on Twitter that he was blackmailed during the FIFA World Cup. An unanimous person contacted U.S. Soccer, saying that he had some serious information regarding the coach’s past.

“During the World Cup, an individual contacted U.S. Soccer, saying that thet had information about me that would ‘take me down’-an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to brin about the end of my relationship with U.S. Soccer,”says the statement. “This is a difficult step to take, but my wife, Rosalind, and I want to clearly and directly share the truth. This is a story that belong to us, but hopefully there are lessons from our relationship that can be valuable to others.

“In the fall of 1991, I met my soulmate. I had just turned 18 and was a freshman in college when I met Rosalind for the first time. There was a familiar feeling when we spoke. Rosalind was and is an amazing person – determined, empathetic, fun to be around – and we connected immediately. It felt like we had known each other for years. We had been dating for four months when an incident happened between us that would shape the future of our relationship. One night, while out drinking at a local bar, Rosalind and I had a heated argument that continued outside. It became physical and I kicked her in the legs.

“There are zero excuses for my actions thay night; it was a shameful moment and one that I regret to this day. At that time, I immediately apologized to Rosalid, but understandably, she wanted nothing to do with me. I told my parents, family, and friends what happened because I wanted to take full responsibility for my behaviour. Rosalind also informed her parents, family, and friends.While the authorities were never involved in this matter, I voluntarily sought out counseling to help learn, grow and improve – one of the most valuable decisions that I ever made. To this day, that type of behaviour has never been repeated.”

After the statement by Berhalter was revealed, U.S. Soccer informed that they opened an investigation about this allegation. They didn’t clarify if the coach will be fired, but they said that they will inform who will take the USMNT for January’s camp.

Both parties were in the middle of negotiations about a possible extension on the coach’s contract. But this situation may change things up as it is a serious matter that involves USMNT’s image.

A referee’s performance is always one of tha main topics tha fans talk abut during a game. As humans, they can have some mistakes, but these have been reduced with VAR’s help.

Unfortunately, VAR can’t control everything. Now, after the Argentina vs. France Final, Szymon Marciniak analyzed his job and admitted committing a mistake that could have changed everything and maybe even the World Cup champion.

Szymon Marciniak admits huge mistake during the Qatar 2022 Final between Argentina and France

Szymon Marciniak was in charge of the Qatar 2022 Final between Argentina and France. The Polish referee met both teams before during the Round of 16 and Group stage, so he knew what he was facing in the big game.

The match was very tough for him, with decisions that favoured each party, but others that harmed them. Now, Marciniak has revealed he committed a huge mistake that could have given France a big opportunity to score.

“Of course, there were mistakes in this final,”Marciniak told Sport (Poland).“I interrupted the French counter-attack after a bad tackle by Marcos Acuna. I was afraid that the fouled player wanted to unwind, and I read it wrong because nothing happened, and you could give an advantage and then come back with a card.

“It’s hard. In a game like this, I take such a mistake in the dark. The important thing is that there were no big mistakes.”

Despite this situation, Marciniak revealed that the French players did not do anything towards him or any of the other referees. “I had somefew words with Hugo Lloris,” he added. “I high-fived Olivier Giroud, who received a yellow card, and didn’t complain, saying it was a tough match. I told Mbappe, who was very sad, that he’s a great player and that he’ll win more than just one World Cup.”

Even though Brazil havethe most men’s World Cup titles with five, this is the second consecutive tournamentthat they have been eliminated in the Quarter-Finals.After scoring his 77th international goal at the World Cup and matching the record held by Brazil icon Pele, Neymar’s pleasure turned to sadness.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker will be 34 by the time the next tournamentis held, but it remains to be seen whether it willstop him from trying to feature in the event.Though he has scored some spectacular goals for Brazil’s national team, he is in danger of calling it quits without a big title to show for his efforts.

Will Neymar feature for Brazil at2026 World Cup?

After the disappointing elimination, when questioned about his future with the national team, the player exacerbated such anxieties by suggesting it may have been his last: “Honestly,I do not know.I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment.Maybe I’m not thinking straight. To say that this is the end would be rushing myself, butI don’t guarantee anythingeither. Let’s see what happens going forward.

“I want to take this time to think about it, think about what I want for myself.I will not close the door to playing with Brazil, nor do I say 100 percentthat I will come back. I need to think a bit moreabout this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”

Despite this, it has been reported by the Brazilian news outlet Terra that the 30-year-old forward has changed his mind and is now eager to participate in the 2026 World Cup. The report adds thathe has confirmed to friends that he would stop at nothing to make it happen.

The fact that it will be another three and a half years until the next World Cup is held, in 2026, and LionelMessi’s World Cup performance in Qatar are both reportedly crucial elements. However, Neymar would be playing under a new coach if he were to rejoin the Brazil national team asTite formally resigned after histeam was eliminated from the tournament.

Nusret Gökçe, famously known as Salt Bae, was seen following the Argentine players’ on the field, taking pictures with them and even holding the coveted trophy. As Messiand others looked uncomfortable with the Turkish butcher being there, many wondered why he was given access to that privileged area.

In the wake of the backlash Salt Bae’s presence in Argentina’s festivities produced, the governing body launched an investigation. On top of that, FIFA president Gianni Infantino apparently unfollowed the chef on Instagram.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino unfollows Salt Bae on Instagram

According to Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports, Infantino followed 303 users on Instagram. But now he has just 302 people on his feed after unfollowing Salt Bae, who has 49.9 million followers in his @nusr_et profile.

Infantino seemed to have a great relationship with Salt Bae, having visited his restaurant in Dubai in 2021 and sitting next to him in some games of the 2022 World Cup. However, things could be different now that the chef apparently disobeyed a FIFA rule by entering the field after the final.

Szymon Marciniak wasthe first Polish referee ever in charge of the tournament’s final. He became international in 2011 and this washis secondWorld Cupexperience. Furthermore, Marciniak has refereed in theUEFA Euro, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and theUEFA Super Cup.

Considering his perfomance in the Qatar 2022 World Cup final, the attacks just kept coming against Szymon Marciniak and the referee just had enough. The referee spoke for the first time since that epic game and had a very polemic answer for France and their fans.

What did refereeSzymon Marciniak say afterthe World Cup final?

One of the calls which triggered anger throughout France was the goal by Lionel Messi during extra time for the 3-2. When Messi shot, many players from the bench of Argentina where on the field. According to the rules, that situation might have been enough for the referee to invalidate the play.

However,Szymon Marciniak answered to France claiming that one of the goals scored by Kylian Mbappe was exactly the same situation. The World Cup final referee had very strong words for those who have criticized his performance during the match claiming that he favored Argentina.

“What was the impact of the players who came of the bench and enter the field? To invalidate the goal, it should have affected the game itself. The French didn’t mention the photo where we can see there are seven players on the field when Mbappe scored.” Marciniak said all this while he was holding his cell phone with the image of the play according to a report from TVP Sport.

It all started when they beat the Netherlands in a very heated game, as they celebrated the shootout win on the Dutch players’ faces. After beating France in the final, they kept on forging a reputation as bad winners.

Kylian Mbappe became a target of mockery by the Argentine team, especially by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who called for a “minute of silence” for the PSG starin the locker room celebrations before holding a baby doll with Mbappe’s face on it during the open-top bus parade. Therefore, French Sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra branded Argentinaas “inelegant winners.”

French sports minister blast Argentina, singles out Emiliano Martinez

“As much as our French team knew how to lose with panache,the waythis Argentine team acted after thevictory is not worthy of the match we saw,” Oudéa-Castéra told French radio station RTL.

“I find it pitiful,” she added in regard to Martinez’s mockery of Mbappe. “It’s just vulgar, inappropriate, really not up to the occasion. This Emiliano Martinez is not distinguishing himself. It is rather pathetic. They are inelegant winners.”

Oudéa-Castéra echoes the sentiment expressed bythe Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, who said FIFA should investigate the Argentine team’s attitude, and byKarl Olive, who even suggested the governing bodyshould strip Martinez of the Golden Glove award. Meanwhile,the FFF presidentNoël Le Graëtwrote to AFA president Claudio Tapia over the Argentine players’ disrespectful behavior.

Leo had played in the four previous editions of the tournament, but they were a heartbreaking memoryrather than a memorable experience. Messi got little playing time in 2006, failed to score in 2010, lost in the final in 2014, and suffered an early exit in 2018.

The World Cup is no longer a stain in his brilliant career, as Messi added the coveted trophy to his résumé this year. But he also set a number of feats in the process, snatching records from Pele, Diego Maradona, and other legends.

Most goals and assists combined in World Cup history

With his sensational level in Qatar, Messi became the player with most goals and assists combined in World Cup history (21). Pele, who had a hand in 20 goals, previously held the record.

Most games played in World Cup history

By taking Argentina to the grand final, Messi overtook German legend Lothar Matthaus as the player with most games played at a FIFA World Cup (26). The Argentine star never failed to make it out of the group stage. This is how he fared at the tournament:

2006 – Quarterfinals
2010 – Quarterfinals
2014 – Finalist
2018 – Round of 16
2022 – Champion

Mostminutes played in World Cup history

Lionel Messi also recorded the most minutes played by a player at a World Cup during his participation at Qatar 2022. With 2314 minutes played, he surpassed Italian icon Paolo Maldini (2216).

Mostgames as captain in World Cup history

Having worn the captain’s armband since Brazil 2014, Messi went on to play 19 World Cup games as Argentina’s captain, an unprecedented feat in tournament history. Leo surpassed Maradona, who was the leader with 16 games.

Youngest player to participate in five World Cups

Messi also surpassed Gianluigi Buffon as the youngest player to take part at five different World Cups (35). The emblematic Italian goalkeeper held the record at 36.

Most World Cup games with Argentina

Lionel Messi also became the Argentine player with the most games played at a World Cup, as he surpassed Maradona’s 21 appearances.

Most World Cup goals for Argentina

Messi’s fantastic performance at Qatar 2022 also saw him become Argentina’s top scorer at World Cups (13). He entered the tournament with six goals, but eventually surpassed the previous leader Gabriel Batistuta (10).

Most goals to tie or open the score

Messi also put Argentina in front on several occasions, becoming the player with most goals to equalize or take the lead at a World Cup (10). Gerd Muller, Paolo Rossi and Ronaldo Nazario held the record with 8.

Messi also scored the first goal of a World Cup game for the eighth occasion, surpassing Christian Vieri, David Villa and Ronaldo Nazario (6).

Most Man of the Match awards in World Cup history

Messi’s breathtaking performances at Qatar 2022 saw him extend his collection of Man of the Match awards to 11, setting a World Cup record. He was previously tied with Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo at six.

Messi’s five MOTM awards at Qatar 2022 are also the most won by a player in the same tournament. The record was his and Robben’s four awards in 2010 and 2014, respectively.

First player in World Cup history to score in all knockout rounds

Messi got on the scoresheet in every round of the knockout stages at Qatar 2022, becoming the first player in World Cup history to do so.

First player to win the World Cup Golden Ball on two occasions

Messi’s incredible level at Qatar 2022 was rewarded with a well-deserved Golden Ball award, which he had already won in 2014. No player had received this accolade on multiple occasions before.

First player to provide assists in five different World Cups

Messi’s playmaking abilities saw him become the first player in World Cup history to provide at least one assists in five different editions of the tournament.

Kylian Mbappe has been made a target of ridicule by the Argentine fans and players, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez leading the mockery of the PSG star. Dibu first dedicated Mbappe “a minute of silence” while celebrating in the dressing room, before holding a baby doll with Mbappe’s face on it during the victory parade in Buenos Aires.

Unsurprisingly, no one in France is happy with the Argentines’ lack of manners and even the government looks upset about it. Just a day after French politician Karl Olive asked FIFA to strip Martinez from the Golden Glove award, the Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire said soccer’s governing body should have taken action in response to the Argentines’ behavior.

French government upset with FIFA’s lack of action against the Argentines’ mockery

“What is FIFA doing about it? Sport is fair play, it’s respect for others, it’s respect for the one who lost, we should not add insult to disappointment,” Le Maire told Sud Radio, via RMC Sport.

Fédération française de football (FFF) president Noel Le Graet had also addressed the Argentines’ players attitude after the final, saying he wrote to the AFA president Claudio Tapia over the “excess” of the Argentines’ celebrations.

“We have launched different procedures,” Le Graet said. “It’s very shocking. These are boys who have given their best for France to succeed. It’s important that we support them.

“I have written to my counterpart of the Argentine federation (Tapia), I find these excesses abnormal, within the framework of a sporting competition, and I cannot understand it. It goes too far. Mbappe’s behavior has been exemplary.”

Since the group phase, Emiliano Martinez became a key factor. However, he took everything to another level in the knockout stages. As usual, he shined under the bright lights in the penalty kicks. Dibu was crucial to eliminate the Netherlandsin the quarterfinals and in the final, France had no answer for him.

During that penalty shootout for the title, Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France. So, a few days after thar incredible battle in Qatar, Emiliano Martinez mocked Tchouameni. Read here to find out what were the strong words of the goalkeeper for the 22-year old.

What did Dibu Martinez say about Aurelien Tchouameni?

During more celebrations at Mar del Platain Argentina after winning the World Cup, Emiliano Martinez had very tough comments for Aurelien Tchouameni when asked about why the Real Madrid young star missed the penalty in the final.

“It’s something that comes out in the moment. I become strong during the penalty shoot-out. Players respect me. My rivals have told me that. When I stopped the first penalty in a World Cup final (Coman), I knew the other kid (Tchouameni) wouldbe nervous. I played mind tricks with him throwing the ball and saying stuff. He then kicked it out and sh**himself.”

La Albiceleste players were joined in the on-field celebration of their victory in Lusail by an overly excited Salt Bae, whose feeble efforts to grip the trophy have now gone viral on social media.Several small excerpts from therecordings were shown, including one in which he unsuccessfully attempted to replicate his signature sprinkling technique over the trophy.

The Turkish chefcould also be seen attempting to attract Lionel Messi‘s attention. He is shown in a viral video placing his hand on the argentine star’s shoulder and attempting to pull him back after the star hesitantly shakes his hand, despite the player’s clear discomfort. Heignored the obvious and continued to pose with team members including Alexis Mac Allister, Paulo Dybala,and Leandro Paredes.

What punishments did Salt Bae face for infringing FIFA’s guidelines in World Cup Final?

Because of the widespread condemnation he received for his behavior at the World Cup Final, Salt Bae will have trouble getting tickets to future majorevents. After Argentina’s triumph over France, the internet-famous Turkish chef disobeyed a cardinal FIFA rule by entering the field.

Such recognition is often saved for the players and personnel who have worked tirelessly to become champions; it is not a chance for a marketing ploy. Salt Bae,who gained internet fame for making a pinching motion with his hand, posed with Argentina’s players, bit into a medal, and handled and kissed the World Cup trophy, all of which are prohibited by FIFA.

Fans took to social media to express their displeasure at seeing the 39-year-old on the field, with many demanding to know how he got permission to be present. Despite being cordial with FIFA’spresident, Gianni Infantino, Gokce does not meet any of the aforementioned requirements and so looks to be in violation of these rules.

In fact, FIFA seem to suggest that Salt Bae had no permission to be at the festivities, and he invaded the party: “Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on 18 December. The appropriate internal action will be taken.”

As a result of his actions, the Turkish media person and restaurant owner has even been barred from participating in the United States’ oldest and most renowned soccer event, the US Open Cup. “Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023US Open Cup Final,” read a statement on Twitter.