Congratulations Messi for winning a World Cup in the best World Cup Final game I have been privileged to watch. Thank you Argentina for making this a world cup, and not an European cup. Yes, the cup will leave Europe for South America. Hope one day it rotates to Africa, Asia, and North America. In the last 4 editions of the World Cup, Europe won 100% of it. So, it is fair that this cup has found a new continent. That has been my position.
It took a decade and a half, but he did it. It took years of disappointment, a brief retirement from the Argentina national team, five World Cup appearances, a ton of frustration, the survival of two wild and furious France comebacks and a nerve-shredding penalty shootout Sunday.
But history will only remember that on a December night in Qatar, the world’s most popular player finally won soccer’s most important trophy, as his country beat France in one of the most thrilling finals in World Cup history.
On penalties after extra time finished at 3-3, Messi converted Argentina’s first shot, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez was once again the hero, saving Kingsley Coman’s kick before Aurelien Tchouameni missed and then, finally, Gonzalo Montiel sealed it for the South Americans, 4-2.
It meant all kinds of things. That Argentina would lift the trophy for the third time, and the first since Diego Maradona spearheaded a memorable 1986 triumph. That Messi would end up with seven goals after become the first player to hit the target in every game of the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi made history by becoming the first player to win the World Cup Player of the Tournament twice (2022 and 2014). France’s Kylian Mbappe finished second and Croatia’s Luka Modric took home the third place. Mbappe also won the golden boot as the tournament’s highest goal scorer.
Messi had to snag a quick kiss of the FIFA World Cup trophy ?? pic.twitter.com/ZyvafUfWUw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 18, 2022
Messi and Argentina lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy. It takes a man who has reached the highest of mountains to appreciate the deepest valley; Messi today enters the special lexicon in Argentina. A legend, unbounded by time.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
—LinkedIn Post
Messi and Argentina lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy. It takes a man who has reached the highest of mountains to appreciate the deepest valley; Messi today enters the special lexicon in Argentina. A legend, unbounded by time.
Messi also made history by becoming the first player to win the World Cup Player of the Tournament twice (2022 and 2018). France’s Kylian Mbappe finished second and Croatia’s Luka Modric took home the third place. Mbappe also won the golden boot as the tournament’s highest goal scorer.
As that happens, I did a minor social experiment on why some people do not write on social media. When I posted my “wish” that it was fair for Argentina to win so that the cup could move to another continent, not many disputed, as Argentina was winning comfortably by two goals. I used the word “wish”, not “predict”.
Then something bad happened – Argentina’s Ángel Di María got injured and was replaced. France started playing better and quickly scored two goals. Many went and updated their comments with some mocking that I was “hasty” for “predicting”. They boldly said I knew nothing about football because France would win! Remember, I never predicted; I only offered a “wish”. When it all ended, and Argentina won, they simply deleted their comments!
People, that is not necessary; you cannot be afraid in this world to put up an idea, in office, in school or anywhere. Just make sure you have some logic behind it as they taught me in FUTO in our philosophy course. Predicting sports is a lazy person’s game, and I do not do it. Even if France had won, it would have changed nothing in my post. Then, the update would be: ‘my “wish” did not come to pass’.
The World Cup belongs to a nation, but for how Mbappe played, I was expecting Messi to seek out Mbappe, and take a photo together with the cup. Sure, Mbappe has one at home. Nonetheless, in this final, at the end, it would have been magical if both Messi and Mbappe had won today. Of course, that could not have happened. Mbappe is a legend. Messi is a retiring legend and deserves his new cup. Mbappe, Bukayo Saka (England) and Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) have years ahead.
Comment: Prof unfortunately Erling Haaland was absent this tournament, but we are entering an era of MBAPPE vs HAALAND. I only hope the Norwegian FA can build a team around him.
My Response: Since he did not come, there is no basis to grade him at the World Cup level. We cannot say that because the current world’s best footballer, Benzema, did not make it to Qatar, that we should hand over the cup to France. Had Benzema played, the outcome would have been different. Having Mbappe and Benzema against Messi would have been another final.
brb… watching this clip of Messi and Argentina lifting the trophy until the next FIFA World Cup ?? pic.twitter.com/cGwGkdrguH
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 18, 2022
---
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.
Two things to highlight:
First, Messi won golden ball in 2014 and 2022, not 2018.
Second, at no point in this World Cup did France have a better showing than Argentina, so the idea of France winning was never based on any sound logic, but rather emotions.
You do not need to be a fan of Messi or Argentina in order to appreciate how football works, but for anyone who understands the game, France never outplayed Argentina, so the better team won.
We understand that it’s easy for Ronaldo fans, but it is what it is.
I was deeply touched today by the fact that France decided to field only African boys. Now, these boys were extremely skillful, fit and determined. This reminds me of our journey in building systems to tackle challenges in Nigeria. It just seems we are asking for an opportunity to prove ourselves.
The next phase of this evolution is to work on the mind of African leaders to be more intentional and visionary. Has any one asked what will happen if the west allows at least one visionary leader in Africa to work. My take is that it may be the solution to all the problem the west is having today. The world has changed. The models being used now was developed when the population of the world was ~2billion. The world is now 8billion. It is no more sustainable to continue to use neocolonialism to run the world. The world needs Africa to save the world.