A legendary final for a legendary player: Lionel Messi’s Argentina won the Soccer World Cup on Sunday by beating France (3-3) on penalties, at the end of what will perhaps remain the most all-time grand finale.
But what is it about? Because Messi, one of the best players of all time, if not the best, could believe that the curse which pursues him in the World Cup, was going to experience a new episode.
While the Argentines led 2-0 thanks to his shoot-off and a goal from his favorite lieutenant Angel Di Maria (23e36e), and dominated the outgoing champions head and shoulders, the other star on the lawn, Kylian Mbappé brought his team back to the top in a few seconds (80e81e). Then Messi saw the French succeed his second penalty of the evening (118e) while the Argentinian had just restored the advantage to his people and harangued his public (109e).
But after four failures, this time it was the evening of the one that has delighted football lovers for so long. Obtained on penalties against a team that refused to lose but saw Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni miss their attempts at this terrible test.
This third star for the Albiceleste, after those of the teams led by Daniel Passarella (1978) then by Diego Maradona (1986) will bear the mark of Messi, favorite to be named best player of the tournament, to the delight of his millions of supporters around the world. Unless Mbappé, author of a hat-trick in the final, a first since Geoff Hust (1966), does not obtain this lot of poor consolation.
Holy Trinity
Before this coronation, the child of Rosario, 35, had won everything in clubs, especially with FC Barcelona. But with his selection, he was content with a Copa America (2021). Won on his fifth attempt, this world title makes him join the legend Maradona, “el pibe de Oro”, crowned in 1986. He also equals Pelé, with twelve goals in five editions of the premier football competition. A trio that looks very much like a Holy Trinity for football lovers.
Messi did something that neither of his two elders, nor anyone else, succeeded in: he scored in the group stages and then in each of the four knockout matches… Including twice in the final…
For France, which was defending champion, this last step was therefore one too many.
Resilient, the Blues had so far overcome many headwinds: packages in cascades of executives, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Presnel Kimpembe, Karim Benzema, then a virus which affected the workforce the week of the half- final and final. Admirable fighters, they still thought they were twisting the arm of bad luck on Sunday.
But France will not become the third nation to keep the greatest of football trophies, as Italy did (1934 and 1938) then Brazil of “King” Pelé (1958 and 1962). He also remains the only one to have won two titles before celebrating his 24th birthday, which Kylian Mbappé will therefore not succeed.
Controversies
Concluded under the eyes of Elon Musk, this World Cup was a tournament like no other, a World Cup of excess, requiring between 200 and 300 billion euros of investment according to estimates. Seven of the eight stadiums were built for the occasion, the last completely renovated.
It is also the first World Cup organized in a place as small, as large as the Paris region, with all the stadiums within a perimeter of 70 kilometers.
He came to interrupt the professional football seasons, held on the borders of autumn and winter to avoid the unbearable summer temperatures of this small gas emirate.
The organizers have been the subject of many controversies.
First there were the accusations of corruption to obtain the organization of the competition in 2010 at the expense of the United States, to everyone’s surprise. Judicial inquiries are underway in several countries.
Qatar has also been criticized on human rights issues, including the treatment of migrant workers from South Asia and Africa employed in construction, security and services.
Qatar denies that thousands have died on the construction sites of the World Cup, advancing the figure of a total of 414 deaths in accidents at work (mainly outside the World Cup) between 2014 and 2020.
In an interview with AFP, the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo explained that the exact toll would never be known: “I think the public needs to know the truth and, sometimes this truth is to say that, sincerely, there is no credible information. »
gigantism
However, he regretted a “double standard” in the criticisms, assured that “Qatar [avait] done better in this area than other countries” and praised “very positive work” to improve social rights thanks to the tournament.
Another controversial subject in the West, LGBT + rights in a very conservative country where homosexuality and sex outside marriage are illegal.
The damage to the environment consubstantial with such a tournament, with in particular the carbon footprint of the necessary infrastructures, has also been pointed out.
In terms of gigantism, the next World Cup promises to be even more disproportionate, with three organizing countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada, sixteen cities thousands of kilometers apart, four time zones…
And 48 teams will participate, against 32 today, potentially more than a hundred games (against 64 currently).