'I can’t believe it!' - Lionel Messi pens emotional message to Argentina fans after World Cup triumph
Updated 19/12/2022 at 08:00 GMT
Lionel Messi added the last major trophy that had long eluded him to his collection on Sunday: the World Cup. The PSG star played a pivotal role in a thrilling final, scoring twice and also in the shootout as Argentina edged France in the biggest match on the planet. Messi took to Instagram to pen a note to his fellow Argentinians after the match, admitting he “can’t believe it”.
'It was epic!' - Expert breakdown of thrilling World Cup final as Argentina triumph over France
Video credit: TNT Sports
Lionel Messi penned a moving note to Argentina fans after ending his hunt for a World Cup winners’ medal on Sunday, admitting he “can’t believe” he has finally won football’s biggest prize with his nation.
Messi scored twice in a rip-roaring final and also netted in the shootout as Argentina edged defending champions France after a thrilling 3-3 draw, which also saw Kylian Mbappe become the first player since 1966 to score a hat-trick in the final – and the first to do so and not win the trophy.
The 35-year-old won the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best player after firing seven goals in Qatar. He also became the first player to score in every round of the knockouts since the tournament expanded to 32 teams.
Messi was under pressure to deliver his country a first World Cup since the Diego Maradona-inspired side of 1986, having already revealed his fifth appearance at the tournament would be his last. And deliver it he did as he took to Instagram to share his feelings with the world.
“CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!” his post began. “I dreamed about it so many times, I wanted it so much that it hasn't clicked yet, I can't believe it.
“We showed once again that when Argentines fight together and are united, we are capable of achieving what we set out to do.
"The merit belongs to this group, which is above individuals, it is the strength of everyone fighting for the same dream that was also that of all Argentines... we did it!"
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Lionel Messi on Instagram
Image credit: TNT Sports
Messi has vowed not to retire and instead soak up the adulation of a football-mad nation at future games, signing off his post with the words: "we are seeing each other very soon...".
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman in the shoot-out before Aurelien Tchouameni missed, with Argentina scoring all four from the spot to land the trophy.
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