“Lionel Messi has shaken hands with paradise.” – Peter Drury
From 20 November to 18 December 2022, the world celebrated its most cherished and adored game. Thirty-two teams battled it out for the chance to hoist the World Cup, and it may have been the greatest World Cup tournament that has been played. Without further ado, here are my six final thoughts regarding the twenty-second FIFA World Cup.
Sports Washing, Corruption, and Controversy
The biggest winner of Qatar 2022 was not Argentina, but rather Qatar. Qatar has successfully sports washed their record on human rights. Qatar 2022 is now remembered as arguably the greatest World Cup tournament ever, and the coronation of Argentine legend Lionel Messi. The world will forget that over 6500 migrant workers died building the stadiums or that LGBTQ and women’s rights are non-existent in Qatar. FIFA is—and will always be—morally fungible. Fantino’s disgrace of a press conference where he defended the hosts should be a constant reminder that no shoe is dirty enough for FIFA to lick. Don’t get me started on that clown Salt Bae.
Contrasting Implications
Lionel Messi—the little boy from Rosario—now sits at the same table as Brazilian immortal Pelé and Argentine phenomenon Maradona. Messi has won every major honour that the sport can bestow. Is he the GOAT? Many will still say no because Pelé won three World Cups, but the argument cannot be dismissed anymore. Messi surpassed Maradona and Batistuta in World Cup goals for Argentina, finishing with seven. Messi had never scored a goal in the knockout stages of any World Cup. In Qatar 2022, he scored five including two in the final to lead Argentina to their third World Cup triumph. This result could not have been worse for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Although becoming the first player to score in five different World Cup tournaments, CR7 got benched for Portugal’s round-of-sixteen matchup with Switzerland; a game which saw Portugal win 6-1. Portugal were upset by Morocco in the quarterfinals. With this likely being Ronaldo’s last World Cup, any rational debate between the two has ended.
A Challenger Appears
France’s Kylian Mbappé almost had it. He scored a wonderful volley for his second goal in two minutes to level the final against Argentina at 2-2, and leveled it again at 3-3 in extra time from the spot. Mbappé would be the second player to score a hat trick in the final. He would convert his penalty kick, but France ultimately had two penalties saved. Mbappé scored eight goals throughout the tournament, and ended up with a runner’s up medal and the Golden Boot. Mbappé has played in two World Cup tournaments, made the final twice and won it once. Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the record for the most goals scored in the World Cup at sixteen. Mbappé is currently tied with Pelé at twelve goals scored in the World Cup. Mbappé just turned twenty-four. I have no doubt that Mbappé will eventually win a Champions League Cup. The Frenchman has at least two more World Cups coinciding with his physical peak. Mbappé is not only a challenger to Messi, but those who revere Pelé because of his three World Cups will have to contend that the enigma from Seine-Saint-Denis will have more World Cup goals, and may have as many World Cup trophies to his name. Mbappé is next.
England Is Spurs
Not the San Antonio Spurs. Those Spurs have been known for being consistently good and winning multiple NBA championships. I mean Tottenham Hotspur, a huge London-based English club that is the butt of many a joke regarding their inability to win trophies. Spurs and England are captained by world-class striker Harry Kane, who tied Wayne Rooney for most goals ever scored for England during Qatar 2022. England are a national team brimming with world class players and emerging superstars. Manager Gareth Southgate has been key to bringing the group together and creating a positive vibe around the squad. Unfortunately, vibes do not win you trophies, nor do they teach a manager how to make in-game adjustments. Was the referee horrible in England’s defeat to France in the quarterfinals? Absolutely. Was England clearly the better side versus France? No question. Did England deserve to win? Well, Kane sent his second penalty to tie the game at 2-2 to the moon, and Southgate decided to put on extra attackers with barely a kick left in the match. You don’t deserve anything: You have to grasp it and not let go. England—like Spurs—do not have the courage to do so.
The Tournament Of The Underdog
Japan won the hearts of fans all around the world. First, they vanquished Germany with two late goals in their first group stage game. After a loss to Costa Rica, Japan needed a win against Spain to advance. They once again came back to score two goals, and ended up topping a group with Spain and Germany. Although they fell in a penalty shootout to the Croatians in the round-of-sixteen, they thrilled the world with their attacking style and their class on and off the pitch. Croatia themselves would go on to knock out the tournament favourite Brazil in another penalty shootout. However, a third place finish should still make the tiny nation proud. Maybe not as proud as Morocco, who went through Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to ultimately fall to France in the semi-finals. Morocco was the first African and Arab country to ever advance to the semi-final. Also of note was Cameroon. Although they did not make it out of the group stage, they became the first African country to ever beat Brazil.
Canadian Dreams
Bell Media did a tremendous job regarding the Canadian men’s national team. It was Canada’s first appearance in the World Cup tournament since 1986, and the positivity was immense. We were told that Canada could get out of the group. Although Belgium was the clear-cut winner of Group F, Canada had a great chance at getting results against Croatia and Morocco. Propaganda is strong in Canadian sports. Just as Raptors fans think Nick Nurse is the greatest coach since Phil Jackson, and Leafs fans think Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid are comparable, the Canadian fandom got swept up in the hype. We finished as the thirty-first team out of 32. Alphonso Davies did score the first ever Canadian goal for the men’s team at the World Cup, but there wasn’t much else to cheer about. Canada will be automatically qualified as a host for 2026. I am ready to be propagandized again: Inject it into my veins.