FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be forever remembered as the time when Africa made the final four. It will also be fondly cherished for its stunning upsets, and the time that Lionel Messi ended a 36-year World Cup drought for his beloved Argentina.
Here are the best enduring images from an unforgettable tournament.
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FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar: Best images
Argentina lose to Saudi Arabia
That feels like a long time ago doesn’t it? The eventual champions, losing to a minnow team, on the opening day of a tournament. This is why we love football. The following day was declared a public holiday in Saudi Arabia.
A young Senegal fan roars on the Lions of Teranga
Senegal made it to the round of 16 before bowing out to England, but that didn’t stop their fans from roaring them on in Qatar.
Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties
The La Albiceleste players weren’t afraid to rub it in the Dutch players’ faces either. Controversial, sure, but who cares? This is what the World Cup is all about. Pure passion.
The Pride of Morocco’s Atlas Lions
Morocco’s miraculous run to the semifinals made the entire world sit up and take notice. In their defeat to France, they certainly had their chances in the second-half. On another day, who knows? One thing is certain though: Morocco will be back for more, and so will their adoring fans.
Japan’s comeback kings
The Blue Samurai thrilled World Cup audiences with come-from-behind wins against Spain and Germany in the group stages. In the round of 16, they were in the unfamiliar position of leading a match when they struck first against Croatia. Losing to Croatia, a team that has now won four consecutive penalty shootouts at World Cups, is no disgrace.
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Kylian Mbappé us a force of nature
This image of the PSG man almost looks cartoonish, and a lot of what Kylian Mbappé produces on a football pitch really is stuff that can only be conjured up in the vivid imagination of a young mind. What a player.
Spare a thought for him though, he scored a hat-trick in the final (the first man to do so since 1966) and still wound up on the losing side. His time will come again, that’s for sure. He’s not 24 until tomorrow. He played a vital part in what was surely one of the greatest World Cup finals we’ve ever seen.
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Lionel Messi is the GOAT and you know it
Hang this one on the Louvre. Having now won the biggest prize to have eluded him, surely this debate is now over. Four-time Champions League winner, Olympic Gold medal winner, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and now champion of the world.
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An image that would warm even the coldest of hearts.
Di María selection pays off big time
Angel Di María scored an exquisite counter-attacking goal in last night’s final which brought him to tears. It goes alongside his Copa América final winning goal against Brazil in 2021 and his strike in the Olympic Gold medal match in 2008. What a player he’s been, and Lionel Scaloni’s decision to bring him into the side last night looks like a wise choice. Also, check out Kun Agüero in the background there.
The World Cup 2022 winners
Remember when Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia on November 22nd and “football experts” were writing their obituary? Yeah, that feels like a long time ago now. It remains their only defeat since 2019, and in many ways it was a result that started a fire under their backsides.
The scenes in Rosario
And, finally, back to where it all began for the great man. The La Bajada neighbourhood in Rosario, Argentina will never be the same again.
It’s going to take a while to emotionally recover from all of that.
Meanwhile, you can get more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game from James Freemantle
Also keep up on daily football trivia via football stats nerd foodball_za.
