This article is written by my good friend Toluwa Famuyide. Go follow his Instagram @toluwafamuyide !!
Magisterial.
This, ladies and gentleman, is what we call the beautiful game.
The setting was sublime. Iker Casillas bringing out the World Cup trophy was the perfect “calm before the storm.” What was about to transpire on the pitch could change the course of footballing history.
And it did.
Lionel Messi is now undoubtedly the best player to ever grace a football field and even when you consider the company he keeps, his goal-scoring/providing record is far superior to the legends. Plus, he’s only 35.
But this isn’t supposed to be about Messi. Argentina put out a performance tonight in Qatar that will make the top pundits, politicians and fans in the footballing world marvel at the quality other footballing continents provide. Take nothing away from France who, despite missing several star players, came back from 2 goals down to force the game into extra time. There is so much to unpack but let’s not make this too long of a read.
THIS IS FOOTBALL
I can only imagine how a true fan of either Argentina or France would have felt during this riveting game. The 3-3 scoreline doesn’t even fully tell the story of this match, but it surely does show how back and forth it was.
Argentina completely owned the first half. France looked so slow and unbothered when receiving the ball; meanwhile, Messi led the Albicelestes in such an unforgiving team press that France folded under pressure.
France wasn’t given a sniff on Emi Martinez’s goal until the 70th minute of the contest, which is totally unlike the former World Cup Champions. Their poor start to the match was maginified by an avoidable mistake by Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele tripping Angel Dí Maria did not just give Argentina a penalty to take the lead, but also showed youngsters all over the world that patience is needed when defending. For many, the call was “soft,” but in a World Cup final, Dembele should know better. Argentina would then quickly double their lead through a swift and brutal counterattack finished off by Angel Di Maria. It was the perfect half, meaning that Messi and company had one hand on that beautiful trophy.
Enter Kylian Mbappe
Despite Messi’s success, Kylian Mbappe finished the tournament with the golden boot (7 goals) and an increased stock (not like he wasn’t already worth a fortune). Not too many players can boast that they scored a hat trick in the World Cup Final at the age of 23, either.
Mbappe showed the world that Messi and Ronaldo can pass down the torch to the next generation. The standard has risen in this beautiful game, and Mbappe has set the latest standard. If you want to be classified as the best the game has to offer, you must be around or on his level.
The two penalties are self-explanatory, but his second goal to equalize was simply breathtaking. The power, technique and audacity to try that volley just prove his quality. Although the French will be upset with the result, they can at least give some thanks to Mbappe because it was not for a lack of effort.
A Game of Penalties
The subheading says it all. Two in regular time, one in extra time and then a penalty shootout to decide the winner. For neutrals, penalties were the perfect climax to what felt like the most suspenseful World Cup game in history. Other than how clinical Argentina was, France just didn’t look up to it. Lloris looked extremely uncomfortable in goal, and with Giroud and Griezmann off, France had no experience in the penalty lineup. Deschamps made the right decisions during the game to spark a comeback, but it ultimately failed him when he needed his veterans to take over.
Despite the timing of the tournament, it was such an amazing watch. I’m not upset because we go right back to club football, and I can’t wait to see how certain players build off of their World Cup form.
Nonetheless, congratulations to Argentina and Lionel Messi. The greatest of all time.
