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Lionel Messi was named the Adidas Golden Ball winner, the Player of the Tournament award, at the just concluded Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Messi crowned his international career by leading Argentina to a first World Cup title since 1986 in Mexico.
The former Barcelona star scored two goals in a dramatic final which ended 3-3 before Argentina edged it 4-2 on penalties.
Messi ended the tournament on seven goals and three assists which fetched him the best player award.
Also Read: Infantino Hints At Plans To Modify 48-Team 2026 World Cup Format
Also he was voted the most outstanding player at the 2014 edition in Brazil, becoming the first player to win the best player award twice in the history of the competition.
The top scorer award went to Kylian Mbappe who scored eight goals in the tournament.
Mbappe netted a record-equaling hat-trick in the dramatic final against Argentina.
He equaled England legend Geoff Hurst as the only two players to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final.
Former Arsenal shot stopper Emiliano Martinez was awarded the Golden Glove for his outstanding display in goal for the Albiceleste.
And the Young Player of the Tournament went to Argentina youngster Enzo Fernandez.
8 Comments
Congratulations to Argentina. I am very happy for you Messi. You deserve it .
I hope Africa as a continent will wake up and do the needful.
African leaders have limited our continent and nobody valued Africa.
Other nations are taking the advantage of that to build their countries.
The black people are the Pilars of the world but African leaders have letting their people down.
They have mismanaged our resources and they can see now, France and other countries can not do without having black players in their national team.
Nigeria and the rest of Africa should wake and eradicate poverty and corruption and bring in transparency and respect over otherwise, the rest of the world will continue using our products to better their economy/country.
Once again, congratulations to Messi. It is your turn. “Iwólokan” It is not how you started but how it ended. Am proud of you Messi. God bless Nigeria!!!
There is a saying in Edo parable, quote, ” if a thief is allowed to assist finding a stolen item, no way, such an item can ever be retrieved.” Unquote. Omon9ja, of all people that is attempting to identify the reasons why Nigeria, indeed Africa, is not attaining their full potentials while you, omo9ja, is the biggest problem of the Nigerian football is, to say the least, so damming the way it is today.
Until you and your cohorts come clean and admit to tendering your wholesome apology to the Nigeria footballing people, for all the colleterial damages that yourself, Kenneth, Ugo, and Odagbemi inflicted upon our football events, nothing you would ever say will be taken seriously in this circle.
Ahahaha @Edoman. You are very funny oooo. I’m not NFF/NFF President. So, why are you putting the blame on me? It is not done that way Oga Edoman.
We the patriotic Nigerians are putting in all our efforts to make Nigeria better but if you call that a problem then I don’t know what I can say about it. Please you and your colleagues should join the moving bus because we are about to take Nigeria back. All we need is your prayer. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Thumbs up, CSN.
I thought Mbappe was the first person ever to score a hattrick in a world cup final. But indeed, Geoff Hurst had done it for England in the 1966 final. 56 years later, England are still waiting for their next senior trophy in football. No world cup, no Olympic soccer gold, no European cup. Nothing. Empty trophy cabinet.
A tremendous effort by Mbappe. He almost single handedly stopped Messi and company from getting the trophy.
The world cup tournament has traditionally been a TUG OF WAR between two continents. Europe and South America. For a long time, it was TURN BY TURN. Europe will win one edition, South America will win the next. However, after Brazil won it in 2002, the world cup decided to have an EXTENDED STAY in Europe. It has been there for the past 16 years.
It is noteworthy that this is the first time since 2006 that the world cup will be leaving the European continent. The world cup seems to like the climate over there in Europe.
As mentioned earlier, the last time a non-European country captured it was in 2002, when Brazil landed it. In 2006, it decided to head to Italy. Then, even though Africa hosted it in 2010, it did not like our food, so it opted to go to Spain. Germany grabbed it in 2014, and it agreed to follow France after much toasting in 2018. Now, it appears to be tired of Europe, and seeks a change of scenery, with Buenos Aires, Argentina emerging as its preferred destination.
Where will the world cup be heading next?
Good epistle. It can head to Nigeria if we do just 4 things:
1. Appointment a credible independent-thinking coach to handle the SE (banish the song “no foreign coach can win it” so include qualified foreigners). Pay the coaches REGULARLY. No salary shearing.
2. Massive infrastructural developments. At least 4 WC standard stadiums in 4 years.
3. Overhaul selection methods into the national teams. Players must pass rigorous psychological assessments. Players who use the SE for career advancements only should be struck off. Home-based players should sign a pact to stay with the SE for 3 yrs before joining foreign clubs.
4. Arrange pre/tournament campaigns long before the main events.
Well said. If NFF can do these things you outlined, our football will prosper. And if fortune smiles on us, who knows? But fortune usually favors the brave, and those who put in the necessary work.
Apart from Spain in 2010, South Africa and Germany in 2014, Brazil, European team are not always lucky to win World Cup hosted outside Europe.
e.g Uruguay hosted and won in 1930
Brazil won Mexico 70, Argentina hosted and won in 1978,
Argentina again won in Mexico 86, Brazil won USA 94 and now Argentina in Qatar.
Looking at these records, I’ll advise we sit up and make good impact in 2026 as it will be hosted among USA , Mexico and Canada… Outside Europe again.