Lionel Messi has commented on the 2022 World Cup ahead of Argentina’s third anniversary celebration of their victory in a couple of weeks. The Argentine icon suggested that fortune was also a factor in their success during the competition.
At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, Messi’s Argentina suffered an initial defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match. They subsequently staged a superb recovery to secure a place in the quarter-finals, where they were rigorously tested by the Netherlands.
Argentina went ahead by two goals in that match but then allowed two equalisers. The contest proceeded to a penalty shootout. Emiliano Martínez’s heroic performance earned the Albiceleste their semi-final spot, a moment that, to Messi, highlights the role of luck.
Speaking to ESPN, Messi reflected on the tournament from almost three years prior, emphasising that claiming the World Cup title is far from simple.
“Winning the World Cup is extremely difficult. Any team can be difficult for you and eliminate you. The ball might strike the post and go wide, or it might go in. Or you can even lose in a penalty shootout.”
In the final match against France, Argentina again established a two-goal advantage in the first half. Yet, Kylian Mbappé’s two goals in the second half brought France back to level terms. Argentina once more took the lead in added time. Nevertheless, Mbappé’s hat-trick sent the game to a tiebreaker.
As in the quarter-finals, Emiliano Martínez was the decisive factor in the penalty shootout during the final. Messi believes that by winning that ‘game of luck,’ they were able to achieve the difficult feat of winning the World Cup.
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