The Story of the 2022 World Cup — Messi's Masterpiece

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was surrounded, before it began, by more controversy than any tournament in the competition's history — questions about the human cost of stadium construction, the treatment of migrant workers, the decision to hold the tournament in November and December rather than summer, and the choice of a country with a poor human rights record. The debate about whether football should have been there at all was serious and legitimate.

And then the football started. And it was, by any measure, extraordinary.

Morocco — Africa's Greatest Achievement

Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. They beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to the last four — three matches against established European football powers, won through extraordinary defensive organisation, set-piece quality, and the collective spirit of a squad playing for each other and for a continent.

Their quarter-final victory over Portugal — Mbappe's France having beaten England — was one of the most emotionally charged matches in recent World Cup history. Players dropped to the ground in prayer at the final whistle. Supporters in Morocco took to the streets in their millions. The celebrations across the Arab world and Africa were unlike anything a World Cup result had generated before.

They lost to France in the semi-final. They lost to Croatia in the third-place playoff. But they left as heroes — to their country, to the continent, and to the tournament.

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England — The Quarter-Final and Harry Kane's Penalty

England reached the quarter-finals, defeating Senegal in the round of 16 with an impressive performance. Against France, they were competitive, well-organised, and unlucky. Aurelien Tchouameni's long-range opener was brilliant. Bukayo Saka equalised. France went ahead again through Olivier Giroud. Harry Kane had the chance to equalise with a penalty in the final minutes. He struck it over the crossbar. England were out.

Kane's penalty miss — the most important he had ever taken — haunted the English post-tournament debrief. He spoke about it with dignity. Southgate left his role as manager shortly afterwards. The search for someone to take England to the 2026 World Cup began.

The Final — The Greatest in History

The final between Argentina and France on 18 December 2022 in Lusail is the finest World Cup Final ever played. Argentina led 2-0 at half-time. Messi had scored, Angel Di Maria had scored, and France had barely threatened. And then Kylian Mbappe, in the 80th and 81st minutes, scored twice in two minutes to level the match. Extra time. Argentina scored again — Messi, his second of the match. Mbappe scored his third, completing his hat-trick. 3-3. Penalties.

Argentina won the shoot-out. Messi lifted the trophy. He stood on the pitch in Lusail, the gold World Cup in his hands, and football's greatest debate arrived at something approaching a conclusion.

Mbappe scored a hat-trick in a World Cup Final and finished on the losing side. Messi scored twice in a World Cup Final, won the Golden Ball as Player of the Tournament, and lifted the only trophy that had eluded him. The game had rarely produced a more dramatic conclusion to a more dramatic match.

Looking Ahead — 2026

The 2026 World Cup — in the United States, Canada and Mexico — will be the biggest in history. Forty-eight teams. More matches. More nations. And at the centre of it all, a generation of players — Bellingham, Saka, Yamal, Mbappe, Vinicius, and the question of whether Messi, at 38, will compete one final time — ready to write the next chapter.

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