Lionel Messi’s message one year after winning the World Cup with Argentina

December 18, 2022, will live forever in the memory of Lionel Messi and Argentina, the soccer-mad nation that watched La Albiceleste beat reigning world champions France on penalties.

It all started with Messi. After 23 minutes, the former Barcelona man opened the scoring at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar to send the Argentine fans into raptures, before Ángel Di María’s goal after 36 minutes.

Kylian Mbappé added plenty of drama at the end. The PSG attacker netted in the 80th minute from the spot and then a minute later scored with a sensational volley past goalkeeper Emi Martínez. The game went into extra time, where the battle between Messi and Mbappé continued. The Argentinian struck in the 108th minute, but the Frenchman found the back of the net once again, this time from the spot, to send arguably the best ever World Cup final into extra time.

Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed for Les Bleus before Argentina won the penalty shootout and Messi lifted the trophy he had always longed for.

On Instagram, Messi wrote: “A year of the most beautiful madness of my career. Unforgettable memories that will last for a lifetime. Happy anniversary to everyone!”

Messi since the 2022 World Cup success

In less than a year, things have changed for Messi, who left Europe to begin a new adventure in the United States with MLS outfit Inter Miami.

“My departure to Paris was not something I wanted, I didn’t want to leave Barcelona. It was something that happened from one day to the next and it was difficult, the opposite of what is happening to me now here (in Miami),” he said before taking to the field in the Leagues Cup final, where he led David Beckham’s club to its first ever title.