Lionel Messi and his journey to winning the World Cup 2022

However, in Qatar, everything changed when Messi entered the tournament with the mindset of a mature, calm, and more confident leader than ever before.

Each match was not just a tactical battle, but also an emotional journey as the whole world watched his every move on the pitch.

Ultimately, World Cup 2022 victory transformed Messi from a living legend into an immortal icon of world football, bringing his great story to a perfect close.

The World Cup 2022 dream – the final piece of the puzzle for Lionel Messi.

Prior to 2022, Lionel Messi had achieved almost every title in modern football. He dominated at club level with Barcelona, ​​winning multiple Champions League titles, La Liga titles, and numerous Ballon d'Or awards.

However, the World Cup remains the only title Lionel Messi has never won. The pain of 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany in the final, is still an unforgettable memory, leaving his career constantly under question.

By 2018, the early setbacks only added to the pressure, leading many to believe that Lionel Messi would never become a world champion.

World Cup journey before 2022

Year Achievements Role Result

2006 Quarterfinals Young player Score the first goal

2010 Quarterfinals Attacking star No goals scored.

2014 Runner-up Captain Losing to Germany

2018 Round of 16 Leader Defeated by France

Qatar 2022 – the beginning of pressure and expectations.

World Cup 2022 began with Argentina as the top favorites to win. Lionel Messi entered the tournament as captain, carrying the expectations of millions of fans on his shoulders.

The atmosphere in Qatar was particularly vibrant, with Argentinian fans turning every stadium into a "sea of ​​blue and white." This was also the time when Lionel Messi received the strongest support of his international career.

Overview of the Argentina 2022 itinerary

Statistical Value

Match 7

Win 6

Lose 1

Goal 15

Champion Have

The Saudi Arabia shock – an unbelievable start.

Argentina opened their campaign with a 1-2 defeat against Saudi Arabia, despite Lionel Messi scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot.

This defeat sent shockwaves around the world, putting Argentina in a position where they had to win both of their remaining matches.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia

Index Hero Saudi Arabia

Ball control 69% 31%

Shoot 15 3

Result Lose Win

Lionel Messi saves Argentina against Mexico

The match against Mexico was the most crucial turning point in the group stage. When the game was deadlocked, Lionel Messi unleashed a spectacular long-range shot to open the scoring in the 64th minute.

This goal relieved immense pressure and paved the way for a 2-0 victory for Argentina.

Argentina then went on to beat Poland to take the top spot in the group.

Argentina Group Stage

Match Result Prominent person

Saudi Arabia Lost 1-2 Messi

Mexico Winning 2-0 Messi

Poland Winning 2-0 Álvarez

Knock-out – the mark of Lionel Messi.

From the round of 16 onwards, Lionel Messi and Argentina entered a series of intense matches.

🇦🇺vs Australia

Messi scored the opening goal, giving Argentina a 2-1 victory.

🇳🇱vs Netherlands – a historic battle

Messi provided an assist and scored, but the match went to penalties after the Netherlands equalized 2-2 in the final minutes.

Argentina won in a tense penalty shootout.

Argentina vs Netherlands

Element Hero Netherlands

Goal 2 2

Penalty 4 3

Result Win Lose

Semi-final – Argentina dominates Croatia

Against the Croatian national football team, Messi played an outstanding game, scoring and assisting, helping Argentina win 3-0 and advance to the final.

Semifinal

Statistical Hero Croatia

Goal 3 0

Control 54% 46%

World Cup 2022 Final – A Legendary Match

The final match between Argentina and the France national football team was one of the greatest matches in history.

Messi scored two goals, while Mbappé netted a hat-trick, sending the match to a penalty shootout.

2022 World Cup Final

Time Developments

23 Messi 1-0

36 Di Maria 2-0

80 Mbappe 2-2

108 Messi 3-2

118 Mbappe 3-3

Penalty Argentina won 4-2

Lionel Messi and the moment of "football completion"

When Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning goal, Lionel Messi knelt on the pitch in tears. It was a historic moment as he officially achieved the only title missing from his career.

Messi not only won the 2022 World Cup, but also brought to a close the greatest journey in modern football.

Messi's career legacy

Category Achievements

World Cup 2022

Golden Ball 7+

Champions League 4

Copa America 1

Total goals 800+

Conclude

The 2022 World Cup was not just a victory for Argentina, but a perfect final chapter in Lionel Messi's career.

From pressure and failure to glory, Lionel Messi has turned his lifelong dream into reality and become one of the greatest legends in football history.