It was a dream come true for Lionel Messi and his countrymen following their World Cup success in the 2022 World Cup showpiece final match.
Lionel Messi has always been compared with Argentine legend Diego Maradona as both stars made their country glorious during their eras.
Both Argentina No 10s inspired the whole football world, and after the Argentine skipper won the World Cup on Sunday, December 18, in the victory via penalties shootout against France, there are now more similarities between the duo.
There is a popular picture of Diego Maradona lifting the 1986 FIFA World Cup, sitting on one of his teammate’s shoulders, and raising the trophy into the sky.
That scene has now been repeated in Doha, with Lionel Messi sitting on Kun Aguero’s shoulders, hoisting the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy.
Argentina’s triumph sparked mass celebrations in which Lionel Messi was raised above the rest of his Argentina teammates while holding the World Cup and raising it in the air.
No doubt the seven-time Ballon d’Or victor Messi has affirmed his claim to be the greatest footballer of all time after scoring a brace in the 3-3 draw over 120 minutes before converting from the penalty spot to emulate Diego Maradona’s glory of 1986.
After kissing the trophy following the greatest World Cup final, the elated Messi noted that he finally got his hand on the greatest prize he had longed for, he said: “I was lucky to have achieved almost everything and what I was missing is here.
“This was the trophy I wanted all my life. This was my childhood dream.”
After a dramatic 3-3 draw, Argentina finally prevailed 4-2 on penalties to lift the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
It’s such a deserving achievement for Lionel Messi who said the World Cup would be his last outing. But changed his mind after winning the tournament.
Lionel Messi greatly rejoiced in his World Cup victory with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo and their children at the Lusail Stadium pitch after the final on Sunday.
After receiving the Golden Ball for the best player in 2022 Qatar World Cup and then lifting the trophy with his teammates, the Argentine maestro took time to celebrate the moment with his loving and dearest family.
Messi’s wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, and their sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, as well as his parents and extended family, all joined him on the pitch with many of them wearing Lionel Messi’s away shirts.
Messi’s adorable kids took turns to hold the Golden Ball trophy and their dad’s World Cup winner’s prize.
Messi’s wife, Antonela, shedding tears of joy also got her hands on the main piece of silverware, kissing the World Cup and raising it aloft.
The Argentine Maestro’s entire family posed for selfies together, celebrating what seems to be the peak of Lionel Messi’s dream.
Afterward, a lengthy ceremony followed, with Lionel Messi being awarded the Golden Ball award for the best player of the World Cup tournament.
Following the medal hand-outs for both Argentina and France, the 35-year-old PSG star Messi eventually had an opportunity to lift the World Cup.
Before Messi hoisted the trophy, he was endowed with a traditional Arab robe given by the Emir of Qatar while standing next to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
After being adorned in the black robe, Lionel Messi merrily raised the trophy aloft, leaping up and down with his teammates as he did so.
After a tremendous celebration with thousands of fans present to grace the victors, Argentina wildly celebrated their World Cup conquest in the dressing room after the final.
In footage taped by retired Argentine legend Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and his triumphant teammates could be seen partying hard and lavishly jubilating in the dressing room.
Aguero was spotted gulping from a bottle, as the Argentine squad danced and sang to Latin music.
The main victor of the moment Lionel Messi sensationally entered the dressing room gripping the World Cup and clambering up onto the table for a wild celebration.
Argentine traditional song continued as $10 million cheque was brought in by one of the team’s sponsors and handed to Messi, who then danced and snapped alongside his squad with the huge prize.
