The victory in the last Copa América, in Brazil, ending a 28-year drought without official titles, returned to Argentina the joy of celebration. The South American champions wanted more. They wanted the world. And it came, after 36 years of waiting and two painful runner-up finishes (1990 and 2014). This Sunday, December 18, the albiceleste team defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shootout, after a 3-3 draw during regulation time, at the Lusail Stadium, securing their third world championship.
Champions at home in 1978 and in Mexico eight years later, Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time outside the American continent.
Just like in 1986, the Argentine title has a standout protagonist. Back then, the “guy” was Diego Armando Maradona; this time, it had to be Lionel Messi. Fate wanted the 35-year-old star, in the last World Cup of his career, to finally lift the most coveted trophy on the planet. More than that, he was the maestro of a team that played, of course, for the country, but also for the number 10 jersey. In addition to being champion, Messi finished the tournament as the second top scorer (with seven goals) and the player with the most matches in World Cup history (26, ahead of German Lothar Matthäus).
The title crowns a campaign that, in the first round, seemed unlikely. Despite being favorites, Argentina debuted with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, coming from behind. The stumble ended a 36-match unbeaten streak. The recovery began with a 2-0 victory over Mexico. The win against Poland, by the same score, gave the hermanos the lead in Group C. In the round of 16 and quarter-finals, they faced tough matches against Australia (2-1) and the Netherlands (on penalties, after a 2-2 draw in regular time). In the semi-final, the team delivered a great performance, winning 3-0 against Croatia.
The French, then current champions, tasted the bitter flavor of being runners-up for the second time – the first was in 2006. They missed the chance to repeat Brazil’s feat with Pelé and Garrincha, the last team to win two consecutive Cups, between 1958 and 1962. The youth of the Bleus squad, filled with names under 30 years old (21 of the 25 called up), including star Kylian Mbappé, shows that the Europeans will remain strong heading into the next World Cup in 2026 (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The number 10, by the way, scored three goals in the final and finished the tournament in Qatar as the top scorer, with eight goals, bringing his total to 12 in the tournament’s history. But it wasn’t enough.
Argentina is the three-time world champion. Somewhere in heaven, Maradona smiles.
Source: By Lincoln Chaves – Agência Brasil