'Undisputed GOAT of his generation' - Cricketers react to Lionel Messi's crowning moment after chaotic FIFA World Cup final
Argentina lifted the FIFA World Cup on Sunday, December 18, after winning the game 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs.
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After a month-long intense tussle featuring 32 teams from across the globe Lionel Messi's Argentina clinched the FIFA World Cup at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Sunday, December 18. This is Argentina's third World Cup title. They had previously won it in 1978 and 1986.
Argentina got off the mark as a 'very cool and composed' Lionel Messi made the most of a set piece in the form of a penalty in the 23rd minute and helped his team take the lead. France were under the pump immediately and before they could even plan a counterattack, Argentina struck twice. รngel Di Marรญa led the charge this time around and scored in the 36th minute to make 2-0 in favour of the South American nation.
France had to wait till the 80th minute when their striker Kylian Mbappe first converted a penalty and then scored a jaw-dropping equaliser in the very next minute to bring France back into the contest. After the end of the 90 minutes the scoreline read 2-2 and game got pushed into extra time. Messi was not done with his charisma for the day as he produced yet another moment of brilliance in the 108th minute and scored a goal to give Argentina a 3-2 lead.
But there was yet another twist in the tale left as France got yet another penalty and Mbappe did what he does best scored yet another brilliant goal to make the scoreline 3-3. Emi Martinez, Argentina's goalkeeper, who made a crucial save to deny the Les Blues in the dying minutes of extra time, was the hero of the penalty shootout. His heroics meant that Argentina lifted their third World Cup title, following the heartbreak of the 2014 WC.
Spare a thought for the 23 year old Kylian Mbappe who brought his side back from the dead in the epic finale with his sizzling hat-trick. Already a World Cup winner, the Frenchman is destined for greatness and by the time he hangs up his boot, he might surpass his opponent on the night and PSG teammate Lionel Messi.
The final garnered plenty of eyeballs and numerous renowned cricketers from around the world reacted to Argentina's win. They took to their respective social media accounts and let their emotions out as Messi's Argentina won the prestigious tournament after 1986.
Here's how cricketers reacted:
Unbelievable game of football! Hard to express in words what it means to #messi and Argentina ๐ฆ๐ท took me back to memory lane when a special bunch of boys did it for no 10 !! #2011 ๐ฎ๐ณ Congratulations to all the Argentinian fans out there ๐ #FIFAWorldCupFinal @KMbappe ๐๐ผ
โ Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) December 18, 2022
Many congratulations to Argentina on doing this for Messi! Wonderful comeback from the way they started the campaign.
โ Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2022
Special mention to Martinez for the spectacular save towards the end of extra time. That was a clear indication to me that Argentina would clinch this. pic.twitter.com/KoXOTl1fSE
What an unbelievable game! #Argentina you are the #FIFAWorldCup champions. #Messi vs #Mbappe was the highlight. Messi is undisputed GOAT of his generation. Like Pele, Maradona before him โฅ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/GRqOSXcQHD
โ Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 18, 2022
Messi โฆthis one is for you โฆ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฆ๐ท #FIFAWorldCup
โ S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) December 18, 2022
Penalties in the #FIFAWorldCupโฏโฏโฏ Final
โ DK (@DineshKarthik) December 18, 2022
It doesn't get bigger than this! #FIFAWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/iKC5Xm8amM
Could a fifa World Cup final be more incredible than this?!! What a match!! Heart goes out to Mbappe and France..And destiny smiles on messi!! Unreal!! Congratulations Argentina!!#FIFAWorldCup #Messi๐ต
โ Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) December 18, 2022
What an amazing World Cup Final. Feel for Mbappe - scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup Final and ending up on the losing side. Congratulations to Lionel Messi and Argentina on an incredible win, first in 36 years , a fitting tribute to the great Maradonna. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/oJZtnNhNga
โ VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 18, 2022
Fantastic Final. Fitting end. Congratulations to Argentina and #Messi #FIFAWorldCup
โ Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) December 18, 2022
One of the greatest World Cup games of all time. Mbappe was outstanding for France but it was meant to be Lionel Messiโs crowning moment. Congratulations Argentina on becoming the #FIFAWorldCup champions.
โ Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 18, 2022
Whoever paid to watch this final live is getting all their moneyโs worth
โ Shai Hope (@shaidhope) December 18, 2022
Phewwwwโฆwhat a spectacle. The Beautiful Game. #WorldCupFinal
โ Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 18, 2022
๐๐ฆ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ณ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต
โ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ช๐ป ๐๐ท๐ญ๐ป๐ฎ' ๐๐ช๐ถ๐ช๐ต ๐ก๐ธ๐ช๐ฌ๐ฑ (@KemarAJR) December 18, 2022
๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ง๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฃ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐จ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ณ
What a sensational final.
โ Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) December 18, 2022
Probably the best.
The GREATEST of all time Leo Messi
โ Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) December 18, 2022
SIIIIIIUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/HMgu6Kl085
The GREATEST of all time @leomessi โฅ๏ธ๐ฆ๐ท#Messi๐ต . pic.twitter.com/oRMkp5gqb7
โ Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) December 18, 2022
Congratulations Argentina for FIFA worldcup 2022 ๐ What an exciting match โค๏ธโค๏ธ love it ๐ฅฐ
โ Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) December 18, 2022
.#fifaworldcup2022 #argentina #mdshami11 #france #leomessi pic.twitter.com/u2vr5ThuiI
What a final .. well deserved Messi and Team Argentina ๐ฆ๐ท โฝ๏ธ โค๏ธ Greatest of all time #WorldCup #FIFAWorldCupFinal #Messi pic.twitter.com/9gBqSGySfm
โ Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 18, 2022
What a match! One of the best if not the best game of football Iโve ever seen! Congratulations Argentina and Messi.. simply outstanding ๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/Fpn0yJDkwm
โ Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) December 18, 2022
Incredible Matchhhhh!!! โฝ๏ธ Had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Big big congratulations to #Messi & #Argentina but what a performance from @KMbappe as well, take a bow! ๐#FIFAWorldCupFinal #ArgentinaVsFrance pic.twitter.com/xHpWrg6Olg
โ Hrithik Shokeen (@Hrithik14S) December 18, 2022
The greatest game of football to bid farewell to the greatest ever! Nail biting from start to finish, it couldnโt get better than this! Congratulations #Argentina ๐ #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tKurUmDWvj
โ Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 18, 2022
What a game. Worthy of a final. Messiโs moment to remember till infinity. Tough luck Mbappe and France. Congratulations Argentina on winning the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/0ZskRbFMYf
โ Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) December 18, 2022
Salute u boss โโโ๐๐๐congratulations Argentina pic.twitter.com/TBz41GkALi
โ Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) December 18, 2022
What a nerve racking game! Omg the best there is the best there was and the best there ever will be @TeamMessi ! Vamos Argentina!
โ Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) December 18, 2022
The focus was on Messi and Mbappeโฆrightly so. But stand up for Martinezโฆwhat saves. What a final. Epic. Argentina it is. ๐โโ๏ธ #WorldCup #Messi๐ต
โ Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 18, 2022
Fairytales do happen
โ Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) December 18, 2022
Congrats Messi and Argentina pic.twitter.com/zzAwYVJMhu
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! Aregentinaaaaaa ! Messiiiii ! ๐ฆ๐ท๐โค๏ธ #FIFAWorldCupFinal Unbelivable game . Martinezzz you are a hero ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ
โ Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) December 18, 2022
If you look closely there's a W in this pic. Congratulations to Messi and Argentina for winning the World Cup ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ Phenomenal effort from Mbappe though, what a final! ๐๐ฝ #FIFAWorldCup #ArgentinaVsFrance pic.twitter.com/NrBNiHfznA
โ Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 18, 2022
Unbelievable final โฝ๏ธ Goosebumps #FIFAWorldCup #ARGFRA
โ Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) December 18, 2022
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