The Longest 120 Minutes of Lionel Messi’s Life: The 2022 World Cup Final

For Lionel Messi, December 18, 2022, was a day of destiny. The World Cup final between Argentina and France was not just another game—it was the ultimate test of Messi’s career, a chance to cement his legacy as the greatest of all time. Those 120 minutes of football, followed by an excruciating penalty shootout, would become the longest, most emotionally charged moments of Messi’s life. The stakes were unimaginably high, the pressure immense, and the world watched with bated breath as Messi faced the final hurdle of his glittering career.

The Build-up: A Lifetime in the Making

Messi's football journey had always been intertwined with the dream of winning a World Cup for Argentina. Despite his club success, the greatest honor in international football had eluded him. The pain of losing the 2014 final against Germany, when Argentina fell in extra time, haunted Messi for years. That defeat left him questioning whether he would ever lift the World Cup trophy.

By 2022, Messi had already achieved everything imaginable in football—seven Ballon d’Ors, four Champions League titles, and countless records. Yet, the absence of a World Cup win left a gaping hole in his career. At 35 years old, the Qatar 2022 World Cup would likely be his last shot at glory. He entered the tournament in brilliant form, leading a confident Argentina team, fresh off a Copa América win in 2021. But Messi knew that anything less than a World Cup triumph would mean his legacy remained incomplete.

The Match Begins: Argentina’s Dominance

The Lusail Stadium in Qatar was electric as Messi led his team onto the pitch. Argentina’s passionate fans filled the stands, creating a sea of blue and white. The atmosphere was tense, knowing that Messi was on the verge of football immortality or yet another heartbreak.

From the start, Argentina played like a team determined to fulfill Messi’s dream. They dominated France in the first half, with Messi orchestrating attacks and dictating the tempo. In the 23rd minute, Argentina won a penalty after Ángel Di María was fouled in the box. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Messi stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the net, sending the Argentinian fans into a frenzy. The goal not only put Argentina ahead but also made Messi the first player to score in every knockout round of a World Cup.

Argentina continued to pressure France, and just 13 minutes later, Di María doubled their lead with a stunning team goal. At 2-0, Argentina seemed firmly in control. Messi looked comfortable, confident, and on course to win the one title that had eluded him. As the first half ended, it appeared that Argentina and Messi were destined for glory.

 France Strikes Back: The Mbappé Show

As the second half began, France struggled to find their rhythm. They were being outplayed, and Messi was dictating the game. But just when it seemed like Argentina would cruise to victory, Kylian Mbappé, France’s young superstar, had other plans. In the 80th minute, France won a penalty, and Mbappé converted it, bringing the score to 2-1.

Suddenly, the momentum shifted. A minute later, Mbappé struck again with a stunning volley, leveling the score at 2-2 and shocking Argentina. The French comeback sent shockwaves through the stadium and put Messi’s dream in jeopardy. After controlling the game for nearly 80 minutes, Argentina was now on the verge of collapse.

For Messi, this must have been agony. His team had been dominant, and now, with just 10 minutes left in regular time, their lead had vanished. The weight of past failures, especially the 2014 final, must have weighed heavily on him. Would this be another heartbreaking chapter in his World Cup story?

 Extra Time: Messi’s Moment of Redemption

The game went into extra time, and Messi looked visibly fatigued but determined. Both teams pushed for the win, and the tension in the stadium was unbearable. Every touch of the ball felt like it could decide the fate of the match—and Messi’s legacy.

In the 109th minute, Messi seemed to have his moment of redemption. After a brilliant sequence of play, Messi was in the right place at the right time to score a scrappy goal, giving Argentina a 3-2 lead. It was a historic moment—Messi had put his team back in front, and it seemed like the World Cup was within his grasp.

But fate wasn’t done with Messi yet. In the 118th minute, just minutes away from the final whistle, France was awarded another penalty after a handball in the box. Once again, Mbappé stepped up and scored, completing his hat trick and sending the game to penalties.

For Messi, those final moments of extra time must have felt like an eternity. He had given everything, scored two goals, and yet France refused to go away. The game had now come down to a penalty shootout—a scenario where anything could happen.

The Shootout: Messi’s Triumph

As the players prepared for the penalty shootout, the pressure on Messi was unimaginable. This was it—his last chance to win the World Cup. If Argentina lost, the narrative of his career would forever be tinged with the idea that he couldn’t win the biggest prize of all.

Messi took Argentina’s first penalty, and, as always, he was calm and composed. He slotted the ball past Hugo Lloris, giving Argentina an early advantage. Emiliano Martínez, Argentina’s goalkeeper, then made crucial saves, and Argentina’s players held their nerve to win the shootout 4-2.

The moment Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive penalty, Messi collapsed to the ground in tears of joy and relief. After 120 minutes of agony, tension, and emotional turmoil, Lionel Messi had finally done it. He had won the World Cup, the one trophy that had eluded him his entire career.

 The Aftermath: Messi’s Legacy

The 2022 World Cup final will go down in history as one of the greatest football matches ever played, and for Messi, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. Those 120 minutes, filled with drama, heartbreak, and heroics, were the longest and most significant of his career.

For Messi, the victory was more than just a trophy—it was the final piece in the puzzle of his legacy. He had won every major individual and team honor possible, but now, with a World Cup in hand, there was no more debate. He had ascended to the pantheon of football greats, standing alongside (and perhaps even above) the likes of Pelé and Maradona.

In the years to come, fans will remember the incredible skill, dedication, and humility that defined Messi’s career. But they will also remember those 120 minutes in Qatar—the longest, most intense minutes of his life, where he finally achieved football’s greatest glory..

Read More....