Argentina vs France: Inevitably is about to happen as Lionel Messi confirmed that the upcoming game would be his last World Cup game. He announced his decision as he spoke to the media after the semi-final win against Croatia.
“Everything that I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina. There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
“I am delighted to finish my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is very gratifying,” he said.
“We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now, so that this time it happens, we win it,” said Messi.
He retired from international duty in 2016 after losing the Copa America final against Chile on penalties, where he missed his kick.
However, he reversed his decision two months later upon the insistence of his family, the Argentine president, people, and fans worldwide. And now, after winning Copa America in 2021, World Cup is the only missing trophy from Argentine’s Cabinet.
“I have been enjoying it the last few years being with the national side. I am enjoying everything that is happening to us.”
“To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.”
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.”
He has become one of only six players to play in five World Cups and the first Argentine player to score in four different World Cups
With his goal against Croatia, he has become Argentina’s top goal scorer in the World Cups with 11 goals, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta (10).
In this World Cup, he has scored the joint-most goals (5) and 2nd most Assists (3) in the ongoing World Cup. The Final will be his 26th World Cup game which is also a new record he has set after surpassing Lothar Matthaus (25).
He made his international debut 17 years ago and has scored 97 goals (most by any South-American player) in 172 games.
“Argentina are, once again, in the World Cup final. Enjoy it.” Messi urged his teammates to enjoy the occasion.
“We’ve been through tough situations, other perfect ones. Today we’re experiencing something spectacular.” He further added.
Argentina will play the final against France or Morocco, facing each other today in the second semi-finals.
Argentina vs France: What is FIFA World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football), the sport’s global governing body.
The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War.
The format involves a qualification phase, which takes place over the preceding three years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase. In the tournament phase, 32 teams compete for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over about a month. The host nation(s) automatically qualify.
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