The GOAT gets the fairy tale ending.
For nearly two decades, Lionel Messi has captivated the international soccer community as the arguably greatest player of all time. After a certain point, some said he had achieved enough to stand alone above all the other legends of the game. To others, he still needed that elusive World Cup championship. That is no longer a gap in Messi’s resume.
After all the goals, incredible assists, and other titles, with Argentina’s win on penalty kicks over France in an instant classic 2022 World Cup Final — the legendary Messi can finally call himself a World Cup champion.
As Argentina celebrated its first Men’s World Cup championship since 1986, the man who took them there, Messi — the unquestioned Golden Ball winner for best player of the tournament — was understandably elated and relieved at climbing soccer’s highest mountain.
Just look at him celebrating this incredible moment with his kids:
Messi celebrates with his kids
pic.twitter.com/v1HNg18oor
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 18, 2022
And what about this scene and powerful hug with his mom? Man, someone, please stop cutting onions:
— @_i24M الحساب الاساسي (@jo9M24) December 18, 2022
Lionel Messi has done it. He's completed football
pic.twitter.com/WpUoiQaQTE
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 18, 2022
How can you possibly not be happy for this legend? And to do it under such thrilling circumstances, where Argentina blew a late 2-0 lead and another late 3-2 lead in extra time … but still won in Messi’s last-ever World Cup game.
We saw an all-time classic unfold in the World Cup Final. And, perhaps more importantly, we saw an all-timer in Messi get the crown he’s been chasing his entire life.
