Lionel Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup final after a dramatic comeback and penalty shootout victory against France [1].
This victory represents the fulfillment of a lifelong goal for the Argentinian captain. Commentators said the match was the moment Messi "completed football" [2], cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greatest players.
The final took place on Dec. 18, 2022 [1]. The match featured a high-stakes battle between Messi and French star Kylian Mbappé, culminating in a tense shootout that secured the trophy for Argentina [1].
Fox Sports said the event is ranked No. 1 in the Best FIFA World Cup™ Moments [1]. The victory serves as the definitive capstone to a career defined by individual brilliance and a long pursuit of international glory [2].
Messi's performance during the tournament and the final match allowed him to achieve the one major trophy that had previously eluded him. The dramatic nature of the 2022 final, moving from a lead to a tie and finally to a shootout, added to the narrative of his ultimate success [1].
“Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, a dramatic comeback and penalty shootout”
The designation of this match as the moment Messi 'completed football' signifies more than a single trophy win. It suggests that the 2022 World Cup victory resolved the primary remaining critique of Messi's career, effectively ending the debate over his standing relative to other football legends by achieving the sport's highest honor.
