Argentina wins the 2022 World Cup | CNN (2024)

ThisWorld Cup finalwas a game that seemed to defy comprehension, conventions and any attempt to describe it.

It was — as the world seemed to settle on in an attempt to sum it all up — simply the greatest final ever.

“Best World Cup Final ever,” Usain Bolttweeted,alongside pictures of himself in an Argentina jersey at Lusail Stadium.

“We’re breathless up here. It was just an unbelievable final. It was a pleasure to be here. I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like it again. It was staggering,” former England international Alan Shearer said on the BBC.

Here are some of the other reflections from wowed spectators around the world:

Lionel Messi and hisArgentinateammates were certainly made to suffer, but eventually they got their hands on theWorld Cup trophy Sunday, in arguably the greatest final of tournament history.

It’s a moment that will never be forgotten. Argentina’s heroic players could barely sum up their feelings after the full-time whistle.

“I’ll never forget it. We had to suffer but we deserved to win,” said Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul after the match, per Reuters. “We’ve beaten the last champions. It’s a joy I cannot put into words. I’m proud of being born in Argentina and today we are on top of the world.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who guided the team through highs and lows at Qatar 2022, was emotional after the match and struggled to hold back tears as his players embraced him.

“I cannot believe that we have suffered so much in a perfect game. Unbelievable, but this team responds to everything,” Scaloni said, per Reuters. “I am proud of the work they did. It is an exciting group. With the blows we received today, with the draws, this makes you emotional.

“I want to tell people to enjoy, it’s a historic moment for our country.”

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was crowned the tournament’s best young player.

“It is a moment that I will never erase in my life,” he said, per Reuters. “Having the chance to win the World Cup with my country is priceless. Let’s take the cup and celebrate together.”

Now the countdown begins to the next men’s World Cup in 2026.

It will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will be the first time that the event has been held across three countries, and only the second time the United States will play host. Mexico will set a new record by hosting the championship event for the third time.

Here’s a look at some more of the numbers that will make the 2026 tournament unique (check it out in interactive format here):

More details, including locations for the opening and final matches, are still being determined.

Several international bodies have renewed sharp criticismsof Qatar and FIFA for glaring human rights abuses and the exploitation of migrant workers before and during the2022 World Cup.

The World Cup final on Sunday coincided with bothInternational Migrants Dayand Qatar National Day.

On Friday,FIFA president Gianni Infantinopraised volunteers and organizers for staging the “best World Cup ever,” but activists and critics sayInfantino’s comment ignoresthe sacrifices of migrant workers,whodeserve compensation for unpaid wages, injuries and deaths.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Equidem, Migrant Defenders and other groups have all called onQatar and FIFAto do more for the workers who delivered the2022World Cup.

“However good the football has often been, the tournament has come at a heavy cost for hundreds of thousands of workers who have paid illegal recruitment fees, had wages stolen or even lost their lives,” Steve co*ckburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, saidSaturdayin a statement to CNN.

“These workers and their families deserve compensation, and we are still waiting for FIFA and Qatar to commit to ensuring remedy for everyone who made this World Cup possible,” co*ckburn added.

co*ckburn acknowledged that Qatar has instituted some labor reforms, but said thatthey don’t go far enough.Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch,agreed.

“Even the labor reforms Qatar did make came too late, were too narrow in scope, or were too weakly implemented to benefit many workers,” she wrote in a blog postpublished Fridayahead of theWorld Cupfinal.

Qatar’s governmentsaysthat over30,000foreign laborerswere brought in to buildthestadiumsfor the World Cup.Sevennew stadiums for the World Cup rose from the desert, and the Gulf state expanded its airport, constructed new hotels, rail and highways.

All were constructed by migrant workers, who — according to Amnesty International — account for 90% of the workforce in a near-three million population.

Matches for the 2026World Cupwill be held in 11 US cities as well as three host sites inMexicoand two inCanada, soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, announced.

The 16 host cities will be: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.

FIFA officials will decide at a later date which of the 16 cities will host group play and which will host elimination round matches.

The 2026 men’s World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, and it is the first time matches will be played in three countries.

It will be the second time the US has hosted the World Cup after the first in 1994, and a record third time for Mexico, which also hosted in 1970 and 1986. It will be the first time a men’s World Cup match has been held in Canada, though the country did host the Women’s World Cup in 2015.

“We congratulate the 16 FIFA World Cup Host Cities on their outstanding commitment and passion,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a news release. “Today is a historic day – for everyone in those cities and states, for FIFA, for Canada, the USA and Mexico who will put on the greatest show on Earth. We look forward to working together with them to deliver what will be an unprecedented FIFA World Cup and a game-changer as we strive to make football truly global.”

The most important hardware for any player at a World Cup is the championship trophy, but some other prestigious honors were also handed down on a stage at Lusail Stadium after today’s final.

Here’s a roundup of the winners:

Not familiar with the awards? The Young Player Award goes to a promising talent under 21 years old; the Golden Glove goes to the tournament’s best goalkeeper; the Golden Boot goes to the player who scored the most goals; and the Golden Ball goes to the overall top performer.

The race for the Golden Boot — the award for the player who scores the most goals in the tournament — hung in the balance heading into Sunday’s clash between Argentina and France.

Fans who were hoping for some excitement in that contest were not disappointed. The lead changed hands multiple times in a back-and-forth finale.

With his first-half goal on a penalty kick, Argentina’s Lionel Messi pulled one ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé.

But Mbappé answered with two goals in the span of about 90 seconds in the second half, leapfrogging the legend in the tournament goal count.

One behind going into extra time, Messi tied Mbappé’s total again with a go-ahead goal in the second period.

But yet another equalizer late in extra time gave Mbappé eight goals for the tournament and finally secured him the honor.

Here’s where things stood when the final whistle blew:

8 goals

7 goals

4 goals

After his team’s triumph in the World Cup final, Argentina legend Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, the prize given to the best player in the tournament.

Messi becomes the only player in World Cup history to win the Golden Ball twice. He also won it in 2014.

This will go down as one of the most thrilling finals in recent World Cup history.

View some of the best photos from a match to remember below, and check out CNN’s gallery from the entire tournament here.

The crowd packed into Lusail Stadium was dominated by Argentina fans Sunday, plus plenty of otherwise neutral supporters who threw their weight behind La Albiceleste in hopes of seeing soccer great Lionel Messi finally hoist the World Cup trophy.

They were not disappointed.

Sunday’s match in Qatar ended in glory for Messi, and played out as a fitting culmination of his extraordinary career.

Messi opened the scoring with a first-half penalty kick, making history as the first player to ever score in every stage of the tournament.

He scored again in the second period of extra time, buoying a shocked Argentina side that was still reeling from France’s lightning-fast comeback.

And when all the pressure was on the 35-year-old during a penalty shootout, the exhausted veteran coolly deposited the ball into the back of the net.

Not long after, Argentina’s talisman was celebrating with his teammates, and holding aloft a World Cup trophy that eluded him throughout a storied career.

The sublime finals performance moved Messi into the position of favorite for the Golden Ball award, which is given to the tournament’s best player.

It’s hard to imagine a better way to cap the World Cup career of a man many consider the greatest of all time.

It took 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty kick shootout to decide it — but Argentina is the 2022 World Cup champion.

It was the two superstars who stepped up first for their sides in the shootout. France kicked first and Kylian Mbappé, who had a hat trick in the game, blasted it by Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez.

Next up was the legend. Lionel Messi approached the spot and calmly rolled one in to tie it up.

That tit for tat exchange was fitting for a match where each side’s talisman turned in an inspired performance.

But after that, France missed their next two attempts to give Argentina a big advantage. And after Gonzalo Montiel made it four in a row for Argentina, it was over.

Going into the shootout, the two sides were tied at 3-3 after some truly epic moments of open play.

Messi’s two goals helpedLa Albicelestecapture their third World Cup and first since Diego Maradona led the team to glory in 1986 in Mexico.

The defending champion France was seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles in 60 years (Brazil 1958, 1962).

Despite the loss, France’s Kylian Mbappé’s hat trick secured him the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s leading goal scorer.

After 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute periods of extra time, France and Argentina are still deadlocked in this instant-classic World Cup final.

How it works:Each team will get the chance to take five penalty kicks, and whichever side scores the most wins.

⚽️ = success

❌ = no goal

France

Kick 1: ⚽️

Kick 2: ❌

Kick 3: ❌

Kick 4: ⚽️

Kick 5:

—

Argentina

Kick 1: ⚽️

Kick 2: ⚽️

Kick 3: ⚽️

Kick 4: ⚽️

Kick 5:

It looked like Lionel Messi had done it.

After a stunning second-half French comeback —thanks to two goals in about 90 seconds by young superstar Kylian Mbappé —France and Argentina went to extra time to decide the 2022 World Cup champion.

Early in the second period of extra time, Messi, who had already scored on a penalty kick in the first half of the game, took the ball on a rebound from a Hugo Lloris save and flicked it toward the goal. France’s defense managed to clear Messi’s offering off the line, but it had crossed over and Argentina was ultimately awarded the goal.

But it wouldn’t be enough. In the 116th minute of this epic final, France was awarded a penalty. Already having scored twice, Kylian Mbappé stepped up looking to tie the match yet again. And he did just that. It’s a hat trick for the 23-year-old.

It’ll now be penalty kicks to decide the champion at the 2022 World Cup. This is absolutely unreal.

But there is still time for another twist!

In the 116th minute of this epic final, France was awarded a penalty.

Kylian Mbappé stepped up looking to tie the match yet again. And he scored!

It’s a hat trick for the 23-year-old, as he coolly slots the ball into the net as if he had all the time in the world.

What a classic!

Argentina 3-3 France

Messi the magician!

The legend got his second goal of the match and gave Argentina the lead in the second period of extra time.

And who else could it have been but Lionel Messi? He fed the ball to a teammate who hammered it toward the goal, but the French keeper Hugo Lloris parried the initial effort away. It fell to Messi’s feet, and he prodded the ball into the goal.

The stadium erupted in euphoria, and there was an even bigger cheer when Messi was confirmed as the scorer.

He’snow leading the race for the Golden Boot again,because he has theedge in assists, the award’s tiebreaker.

Argentina 3-2 France

CNN’s Don Riddell contributed to this report from inside Lusail Stadium.

Argentina and France are still tied 2-2 after the first 15-minute period of extra time at the 2022 World Cup final.

After a frantic first period, La Albiceleste had two opportunities to regain its lead, but the first ricocheted off France’s defense and the second slid wide of the goal.

The two sides will go another 15 minutes to see if either team can find a match-winning goal.

If neither side is leading after that, it’ll be a penalty kick shootout to decide the champ.

The Argentina fan in front of me at Lusail Stadium is cutting a pretty dejected figure right now.

For most of the match,he’sbeen on his feet, pumping his fists, singing the songs.

Now he tells me he’s “afraid” about what comes next.He’sslumped back into his chair.

“We should have killed the game off when we had the chance,” he told me. “I am not in a good mood.”

It’s all tied in extra time of an instant-classic World Cup final.

We’re now in extra time after a wild 90 minutes in Qatar.

Argentina and France are deadlocked at 2 goals apiece going into extra time.

Remember: The two sides will now play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If no team is leading after that, it’ll be a penalty kick shootout to decide the champ.

We’re heading to extra time in an instant-classic World Cup final.

Lionel Messi and Argentina built a 2-0 lead in the first half and appeared to be cruising to the title. But Kylian Mbappé had other plans.

The 23-year-old French superstar got two goals in under two minutes late in the second half to tie the game at 2-2. That’s where things stand after 90 minutes.

How extra time works: The two sides will now play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If no team is leading after that, it’ll be a penalty kick shootout to decide the champ.

Argentina 2-2 France

How has this happened? The French have come from nowhere to tie the game.

The masses of Argentine fans have been stunned into silence. The French supporters behind the goal that Mbappé scored in twice are going absolutely bonkers.

Just a short time ago, a 2-0 deficit seemed insurmountable for France. They only took their first shot in the 71st minute.

Now we’re even at 2-2, and the outnumbered French contingent in the stands can dream once again of a back-to-back World Cup title.

OMG! Just moments after he cut Argentina’s lead to one with a penalty shot goal, France’s 23-year-old superstar Kylian Mbappé got his second.

It had all seemed so certain. Argentina was coasting. But a moment of brilliance from Mbappé has changed the entire complexion of the 2022 World Cup.

Messi lost possession in midfield and the ball popped up to Marcus Thuram, who found Mbappé on the volley. The superstar forward rifled the ball into the net.

Just like that, we’re tied in a 2022 World Cup final that looked all but over.

Argentina 2-2 France

Trailing late in the second half, France was awarded a penalty for a foul on Kolo Muani.

Kylian Mbappé stepped up for his side and beat Emiliano Martínez, who got a hand on the shot.

Mbappé picked the ball up out of the net and ran straight back to kickoff again.

His side has life! Game on!

Argentina 2-1 France

If any team deserves to win this World Cup for their fans,it’sArgentina.

Whilst many countries, especially in Europe, sent only a smattering of supporters, tens of thousands of fans traveled in from South America. We’veheard their enchanting songs from Day One — in Qatar’s souqs, on the metro and in the stadia.

They saw their team humbled here in their opening match against Saudi Arabia, but they never gave up, and nowthey’rebeing rewarded with a brilliant performance. Soon it could be a historic win.

We are into the last half-hour of the 2022 World Cup, and Argentina has continued to dominate during this final.

Les Bleus have seemed to be a shadow of themselves, with little of the defensive sharpness that has defined their tournament. Star man Kylian Mbappé has barely touched the ball, finally managing his side’s first shot of the match in the 71st minute.

Messi, meanwhile has continued to shine on what could be a golden night for him. He almost put away his team’s third goal but an intervention from Adrien Rabiot pushed the ball wide and allowed France to maintain a sliver of hope.

But anything can happen in a World Cup final, and the tension is ratcheting up as Argentina and Messi edge closer to that elusive trophy.

Argentina and France have just kicked off the second half at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium in the 2022 World Cup final.

Argentina leads France 2-0 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María.

Messi and his side absolutely dominated the first half of play. The defending champions from France were unable to muster a single shot on goal.

Something to watch in the second half: French manager Didier Deschamps is shaking things up. He’s pulled two of his starters — Ousmane Dembélé and one of the team’s leading goal-scorers of the tournament, Olivier Giroud.

Argentina 2-0 France

Argentina is blowing France off the field, and this crowd dominated by Argentine fans is in dreamland.

As the French coach Didier Deschamps tries to pick his players up off the floor of the dressing room at halftime, they’ll all have the sound of La Albiceleste fans ringing in their ears.

Tens of thousands of them are here in Lusail, confidentthey’renow just 45 minutes away from a third world title and the completion of Lionel Messi’s fabled quest to stand atop the world.

Argentina leads France 2-0 after the first 45 minutes of the World Cup 2022 final.

It was the South American side that looked the more lively from the first whistle. And about a quarter through this match, Argentina hit paydirt.

In the 21st minute, Ángel Di María was taken down in the box. The ref blew the whistle and pointed to the spot: penalty awarded to Argentina.

Who else but Lionel Messi stepped up and coolly deposited the ball past France goaltender Hugo Lloris to put his side up 1-0.

Late in the first half, things went from bad to worse for the defending champs.

In the 35th minute, Messi set the counterattack in motion. Alexis Mac Allister found a steaking Di María on the left side of the box, who beat Lloris to give Argentina a commanding 2-0 lead going into the break.

This strong start has the crowd in Lusail Stadium, dominated by those rooting on Messi’s side in his final World Cup match, in euphoria.

Argentina 2-0 France

With his goal on a penalty kick in the first half, Lionel Messi became the first man in World Cup history to score in all five rounds at a single tournament:

It’s a dream start to the World Cup final for Argentina!

A Lionel Messi-ignited counterattack ends with Ángel Di María putting the ball past France’s Hugo Lloris to put Argentina up 2-0 late in the first half.

It all began with a beautiful touch from Messi in midfield that found Julián Álvarezin space on the wing. His long ball forward was latched on to by Mac Allister in behind France’s defense. The midfielder’s inch-perfect pass allowed Di María to chip the ball into the net.

Two goals ahead, La Albiceleste are very much in control of this game, with almost the entire stadium cheering them on.

In the 21st minute, Ángel Di María was taken down in the box and the ref pointed to the spot.

In his final World Cup match, with a roaring crowd behind him, Lionel Messi stepped up. He took two small steps, sent Hugo Lloris diving the wrong way and tickled the ball into the righthand corner of the net.

It put his side in command of this massive showdown in the 23rd minute.

With that goal, Messi also pulls ahead of Mbappé in the tournament’s Golden Boot race for most goals scored. He has now scored six times in Qatar.

Argentina 1-0 France

Argentina has started brightly in this World Cup final, slicing through France’s midfield with relative ease and creating several half-chances.

At times, Argentina has almost seemed too eager, with the flag going up multiple times for offside in the box.

France, by contrast, has seemed more nervy and has struggled to keep possession in these opening skirmishes.

Except for a magical touch from Mbappé and a free kick just outside the box, Les Bleus have largely been pinned in their own half when they have been on the ball.

France and Argentina have kicked off to decide who will lift the 2022 World Cup.

This final pits Argentina legend Lionel Messi —who is playing in his last World Cup match — against defending champion France and their 23-year-old superstar Kylian Mbappé.

Let’s go!

Argentina 0-0 France

France

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Defenders: Théo Hernandez, Jules Koundé, Raphaël Varane, Dayot Upamecano

Midfielders: Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni

Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembélé

———

Argentina

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez

Defenders: Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Tagliafico

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María

Forwards: Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi

The closing ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has begun atLusail Stadium in Lusail,Qatar on Sunday.

The 15-minuteceremonydubbed, “A Night to Remember,”will “reflect onthe tournament through poetry and music,”organizers said.Artistsare performing live songs from the official soundtrack of the World Cup.

Award-winning Nigerian musician Davido and Qatari star Aisha are singing “(Hayya Hayya) Better Together.” Award-winning Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Ozuna and French-Congolese rapper Gims are presenting “Arhbo” andNora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad and Manalare singing “Light the Sky.”

The showdown between Argentina and defending champion France for soccer’s highly coveted trophyfollows the musical event.

After 62 matches over nearly a month, it’s time for Qatar 2022’s showpiece final.

It’s a mouthwatering showdown with plenty of plot lines heading into the match.

France is the first champion to reach the final in two decades, while Argentina is chasing a third title. According to FIFA’s most recentrankings,La Albiceleste is No. 3 while Les Bleus are No. 4.

Players to watch:

The match provides one last chance for the 35-year-old Lionel Messi to fulfill his lifelong dream of guiding Argentina to its third world title.

The magical Messi has cast his spell over opposition teams at Qatar 2022, including a sublime pass to set up his side’s first goal against the Netherlands on Dec. 9, and then a penalty and an assist against Croatia in the semifinal on Dec. 13.

Along the way, Messi has been ably assisted by striker Julián Álvarez, who scored two of the three goals to overpower Croatia, and midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

Goalkeeper Emi Martínez also further endeared himself to Argentine fans with two saves in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Standing in Messi’s way is his Paris Saint-Germain teammateKylian Mbappé, as France seeks to win back-to-back World Cup trophies.

Mbappé is tied with Messi as this tournament’s top goalscorer and will be doing his very best to derail Argentina, as France looks to have the most complete team of the tournament.

Antoine Griezmann has provided much of France’s creative force, while also helping out defensively. The Atletico Madrid star was instrumental in France’s win against England, superbly crossing for Olivier Giroud to head home France’s winner in a 2-1 quarterfinal victory.

Like Griezmann, the 36-year-old Giroud has had a renaissance in this World Cup after failing to score a single goal in 2018.

But at Qatar 2022, the AC Milan forward has scored four goals at the World Cup – only one behind Mbappé – and has become France’s all-time record goalscorer.

Welcome to the world’s biggest, blingiest salad bowl — the Lusail Iconic Stadium! The word “iconic” is actually in the title of the venue, just in case you don’t think it merits the accolade.

Its spectacular architecture looks as though it’s been dipped in gold, and it is a fitting arena for a match that will decide both the World Cup and the Golden Boot race for most goals.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé have arrived here as the tournament’s top scorers with five goals each.

Tens of thousands of supporters got here early, and they have been streaming inside for the last couple of hours. The shelves of the complimentary flag stall had been picked clean an hour and 45 minutes before kickoff.

Every Argentina supporter believes that they’re going to witness a destiny fulfilled today. That is, in the first World Cup since the passing of Argentine icon Diego Maradona, Messi will finally lift the trophy in his last ever World Cup match, taking his place alongside his late compatriot in the pantheon.

Finding French supporters here is like unearthing a truffle. They know that there aren’t many of them, but they’re going to try and make themselves heard in the cavernous stadium.

Outside, their plucky chants of “Allez Les Bleus,” seem almost defiant, but they know that France stands on the brink of history itself, potentially the first side to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962. And if Mbappé can get his hands on a second World Cup at the age of just 23, we could be lauding him as the next Pelé.

Fate will now decide the outcome, but as an Argentine fan walks by me with Messi’s face on one side of his drum and Maradona’s image on the other, I can hear the Argentina fans’ song which has become the unofficial soundtrack to this whole tournament.

It almost sounds like a lullaby, ending with the verse: “Now let’s get excited, I want to win the third World Cup. I want to be world champion. And Diego — we can see him from heaven, encouraging Lionel to be champions again.”

The French foreign ministry sent a message of support to its nation’s soccer team Sunday, saying it was “all behind the French team for this FIFA World Cup FINAL.”

“We believe in you to ‘bring the cup home’ and a new ⭐ (star),” the foreign ministry said on Twitter. “ALLEZ LES BLEUS! and good luck to Argentina!”

With the World Cup nearly complete, we took a look back through the tournament to highlight some of the ways that Qatar 2022 made history:

Tournament firsts:

Player accomplishments:

Ukraine is criticizing FIFA for refusing to show a video message from President Volodymyr Zelensky in Qatar’s Lusail Stadium ahead of the World Cup final Sunday.

The video, which was recorded in English, was meant to be an “appeal for peace,” according toawritten statement provided to CNN byUkraine’s presidential office Saturday.

“Qatar supported the President’s initiative, but FIFA blocked the initiative and will not allow the video address of the president to be shown before the final game,” the statement said.

CNN has reached out to FIFA but has not received a comment.Qatar has not publicly commented on the request fromUkraine.

CNN first reported on the story when a source within Zelensky’s office said the request to deliver the video message had been rebuffed.

CNN received a video copy ofPresident Zelensky’s pre-recorded speechon Saturday.

During the 1 minute, 43 second video, Zelensky says soccer is meant to bring the world together and calls for “the World Cup, but not world war.”

“This World Cup proved time again that different countries and nationalities can decide who is the strongest in the fair play, but not in the playing with fire —on the green playing field and not on the red battlefield,” Zelensky says in the address.

The Ukrainian presidential office told CNN they were informed that FIFA regarded the message as too politicaland said they had sent a copy of the text of the address to FIFA headquarters in Switzerland on Friday.

“There is nothing political in the president’s appeal that gives political color to the sporting event, namely, there are no subjective evaluations, political signals, and even more so no accusations,” the statement said.

The Ukrainian presidential office added there is “still time for FIFA to correct their error.”

“FIFA should not be afraid that words of peace will be heard at the global soccer celebration that represents peace,” the statement said.

Ukraine’s presidential office also said it will distribute the video independently if FIFA doesn’t air it. It said the organization’s decision to block the clip would show “FIFA has lost its valuable understanding of soccer — as a game that unites peoples, rather than supporting existing divisions.”

As ever, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar produced stirring moments on and off the pitch.

Check out some of the best images captured in the course of the tournament, and view a complete gallery of the best photos from Qatar 2022 here.

It’s impossible to ignore the storyline: Argentina soccer legend Lionel Messi is playing in his final World Cup match Sunday against Kylian Mbappé, the 23-year-old superstar who is quickly becoming the face of the game.

But in remarks to the media Saturday, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni downplayed the superstar faceoff, emphasizing that today’s World Cup final is a team game.

“Tomorrow’s game is Argentina against France; it’s not about Messi and Mbappé. We believe that both teams have the necessary weapons for the game to be decided by other players, not necessarily either one of them,” Scaloni said.“On our side, Messi is very well and we hope that it ends up falling on our side, but this is a game between Argentina and France and there are plenty of players who can decide the game.”

The coach added about the opposing side’s superstar:

“France is not only Mbappé. He is a great player. I think they have other players that assist him and make him a better player.He is one of the best players, he is still young and he will continue improving, there is no doubt about that.”

Perhaps underlining Scaloni’s point is the race for the Golden Boot. While Messi and Mbappé currently are in the lead for most goals in the tournament, a pair of teammates are close behind them. Argentina’s Julián Álvarez and France’s Olivier Giroud have scored four times apiece, putting them just one goal behind their squads’ headlining stars.

A titan of the sport will make his last World Cup appearance in Sunday’s final between Argentina and France, but Lionel Messi’s opponents haven’t conceded the spotlight.

The reigning champion Les Bleus will look to create their own entry in the history books. They have a chance to become the first back-to-back tournament winners since Brazil in the late ’50s and early ‘60s.

“I know that the Argentines, Messi, some people — maybe some French people too —would like to see (Messi get the title) … but we’re not necessarily OK with that, so we’ll do everything we can to get what we want,” French coach Didier Deschamps told reporters Saturday.

“It’s a final between two big nations of football, between Argentina and France,” added Hugo Lloris, the French captain and goalkeeper.“Obviously when you face that type of player you need a special focus on him, but it’s not only about him, you know?”

“We want to write our own story and we want to finish it in the best way possible,” Lloris said.