Argentina reached the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with Alejandro Sabella leading the team. However, they failed to win the tournament. Eight years later, Argentina got their revenge defeating France in the final of the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi delivered a stellar performance that day scoring two goals and leading the team through a dramatic penalty shootout. Three years later, Messi looked back on that game. He praised Kylian Mbappe for his outstanding performance in the same match.
“He (Kylian Mbappe) has the peace of mind of having won it in 2018, but you assimilate it in a different way. While it’s crazy what he did (his high performance) in the final and not being able to be world champion, it happened to me when I reached the final in 2014 (FIFA World Cup) and not being able to be champion at that time was torture for me. Afterwards, being champion later makes everything a little bit smoother, you look at it in a different way… I have it now,” confessed Lionel Messi on Simplemente Futbol.
Kylian Mbappe delivered one of the best individual performances in a FIFA World Cup final ever. The young French striker scored a hat-trick and led his team to a dramatic penalty shootout. However, Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez rose to the occasion. The Argentine goalkeeper saved two penalties and secured the victory for Lionel Messi’s Argentina national team.
Despite the defeat, Kylian Mbappe finished the tournament as the top scorer with eight goals. He surpassed Lionel Messi, who scored seven. In addition, he received the Silver Ball award, which recognized his impressive performance throughout the World Cup. Mbappe is only 26 years old, so he still has time to win more FIFA World Cup awards. On the other hand, Messi is 37, and the 2026 tournament could be his last chance to compete at that level.
Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner’s Trophy during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Lionel Messi opens up about what winning the 2022 World Cup meant to him
Before he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi had already made history with the Argentina National Team. He became the top scorer in the team’s history and won the Copa America. He also earned a place in the debate about the greatest player of all time. Messi won seven Ballon d’Or awards and collected many more individual honors.
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Lionel Messi reveals where he stands on playing his sixth FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2026
Despite winning almost everything, Messi admitted that this last tournament felt different. It carried a special and personal meaning. “The World Cup…it shows on the field, when I looked at my family and thought, ‘That’s it.’ We did it all, we achieved everything, and after this, there’s nothing left,” stated Lionel Messi.
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