The Qatar World Cup can be called many things, and memorable is certainly one of them.
After a month of headlines on and off the pitch, the tournament came to an end on Sunday in the most dramatic fashion as Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the trophy he had prized above all else.
A remarkable final against France was ultimately settled on penalties after a 3-3 draw, but what else will we recall from a month when the eyes of world were on Qatar for many reasons?
Here's what our team made of it all.
From our reporters on the ground in Qatar...
John Cross
What will be the legacy of this World Cup?
No-one should be in any doubt, the football was terrific and, as a tournament, it was well organised, the final group stage games exciting and ultimately it ended up with the dream final. The best World Cup final of all time and arguably greatest game of all time.
It will also leave FIFA convinced that they should hold another winter World Cup and I wouldn’t mind betting they will also look to stage it in one city or a small country again.
That element worked so well for the fan experience - you could go and see games, travel was easy and it was totally different.
It will also raise the question about whether we can and should cut down the booze culture around football. There can be no doubt the alcohol ban in stadiums and in many bars and restaurants reduced trouble to virtually zero.
So much for the stupid outrage around the booze ban before Qatar. We’re so arrogant at times - going to a different country and expect them to behave like us.
As for the off-the-pitch legacy, I don’t think it will make a blind bit of difference to Qatar. It didn’t in South Africa, nor Brazil and now look at Russia. Why should Qatar be any different?
I’ve got strong views on the World Cup being held in a Muslim country… it’s about time. The culture is so welcoming and wonderful.
But, equally, how can we seriously hold the World Cup in a country where it is illegal to be gay and so oppressive towards the LGBTQ community. It’s just plain wrong.
I’ve been so surprised by people who campaign against different forms of discrimination back home who seem to have swallowed the “progress” line here.
It should never have been allowed to happen and good luck to FIFA next time they talk about diversity. Qatar got the vote before Gianni Infantino came into power but there has been plenty of food for thought for the FIFA president.
This World Cup has been good for football. And yet will be remembered with a but.
Will a World Cup be hosted in just one city again?
Most definitely. This has been a huge success. It’s allowed fans to travel easily, go to different games and I feel it’s just a matter of time before it happens again either in one city or in a small country.
But the accommodation should have been way better and more affordable.
Was this tournament a missed opportunity for England and Wales?
England definitely will see it as one. This squad was coming of age, realising its potential and had scored goals, tightened up in defence through the group stages plus they largely had all their big players fit.
They played a France team with big players missing. They dominated the game, were on top and it was a game and tournament that got away.
Wales not so much… this generation has come to an end. It’s a complete rebuild now.
Who was your star player?
Lionel Messi. What a stunning way to win the tournament. Incredible.
Which was your favourite match?
Argentina v France - the greatest World Cup final and possibly match of all time.
Best moment on the pitch?
The last gasp Holland free kick against Argentina. Wout Weghorst finished it. Just brilliant skill, improvisation and sublime technical ability. That is what World Cups should be about.
Best moment off the pitch?
This is a bit cliched… but the people. The workers at our apartments, the stadium staff, security and so on will be my abiding memory. If only London was that friendly!
Which set of fans stood out the most?
Argentina. So passionate, so supportive and so colourful. While huge numbers have stayed away, they have been just sensational. They have been loud, shouted for their team and gone to great lengths to be here.
Sum up this World Cup in three words.
Memorable, sensational, flawed.
Andy Dunn
What will be the legacy of this World Cup?
The broadest, brightest smile inside the Lusail Stadium ahead of and after Sunday’s final belonged to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim. No wonder.
He was close to Gianni Infantino (of course he was) and President Macron, happy in the knowledge that Qatar and FIFA had pulled it off, the sports-washing heist of the century.
On Qatar National Day – a day decreed by Sheikh Tamim in 2007 and commemorating Qatar’s unification in 1878 – the footballing world, the sporting world was focused on Qatar.
Whether you believe Qatar has any sins to wash or not, it was a perfect day for the Sheikh.
On all levels for Qatar, the World Cup was a success, went without a noticeable hitch, and produced some good football.
The stadiums were something else, the infrastructure outstanding, organisation almost faultless.
But the only real legacy of Qatar 2022 is that FIFA will do anything for power and money.
The World Cup was not awarded to Qatar on Infantino’s watch but he embraced it with indecent enthusiasm.
Universal positives? Semi-automated offside technology, quotas of additional time that negated the plague of time-wasting, not a sign of violence anywhere – apart from the odd dust-up on the pitch.
The universal negative? It now seems FIFA can sell out to anyone. Remember the One Love campaign that a few countries were planning to take part in? Crushed by Qatar and by FIFA.
And the likes of the English FA allowed themselves to be silenced.
There was some fine football played at Qatar 2022 and some exciting games.
But the only legacy of Qatar 2022 will be that anything, even the World Cup, has its price.
Will a World Cup be hosted in just one city again?
No. As much as FIFA have loved the cash-rich Qataris and the money that swirls around these parts, there is even more dough to be made at a tournament spread across a nation or two...or three, as it will be in 2026.
And it is the cash that drives FIFA.
Was this tournament a missed opportunity for England and Wales?
Without being patronising, the achievement for Wales was getting here but they will still be gutted not to have put in any sort of performance. The United States and Iran were beatable.
As for England? A huge opportunity missed. It was a France team missing key players and Gareth Southgate and his side blew it. The overall standard at Qatar 2022 was not sky-high and it was a great chance for England.
And I suspect Southgate knows it.
Who was your star player?
Lionel Messi. Head and shoulders above anyone else – the little genius was the giant of the tournament.
He was not just inspirational in the way he played but, noticeably, he took more time than usual in trying to motivate those around him.
Which was your favourite match?
Argentina v France. There is unlikely to be another game like it.
There will be higher quality games, there will be slicker games, there will be games with more showreel goals (don’t forget, three of the six were penalties). But there will never be a more dramatic game.
Best moment on the pitch?
Stephanie Frappart sounding the first whistle of the game between Costa Rica and Germany.
I’m pretty sure Qataris will not see it this way but it was, truly, a landmark moment. She refereed wonderfully and was unlucky not to get another game.
Best moment off the pitch?
Watching migrant workers stage a lively game of T20 cricket on a vast concrete park one Sunday morning. It was certainly an antidote to the lavish excesses in the World Cup’s VVIP areas.
Which set of fans stood out the most?
Argentinians. To come in such numbers and to say for so long showed a commitment that was almost beyond comprehension. It’s not as though Qatar is a really fun place to be.
Sum up this World Cup in three words.
Lionel Andres Messi.
What were your standout World Cup moments? Have your say in the comments section
Mark Jones
What will be the legacy of this World Cup?
That absolutely anything is possible if you're willing to pay for it.
Walking around Doha felt like you were in some sort of football theme park, and it was clear that this place had been set up for this specific moment from the second Sepp Blatter pulled Qatar's name out of that envelope in 2010.
When you spoke to the people in shops, at stadiums, on the Metro and at our accommodation it was impossible not to be pleased for them though. Football had come to them and they were embracing both the tournament and the visitors it brought in the most welcoming way.
We have our own ideas and cultures and they have theirs, and that deserves to be respected. Obsessions around things like alcohol might have been prevalent back home but that's just the way it is there.
But then as soon as you'd allow yourself to think positively of the tournament you'd remember exactly what it all was, and why it should never have been in Qatar in the first place. Abuses of migrant workers and LGBTQ+ people have no place in modern society, and any country responsible for such things should not be rewarded.
Hopefully the work done in highlighting these horrendous practices can be some sort of legacy in itself. Qatar wanted to sportswash, but more people than ever are now aware of what goes on there.
Will a World Cup be hosted in just one city again?
Again, only if the money's there.
You wouldn't surprised to see it happen in Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the years to come, but it probably won't happen in a city such as London despite the facilities being in place for it. More money can be made spreading it around.
Was this tournament a missed opportunity for England and Wales?
It wasn't so much an opportunity for Wales as it was the final destination, but they were hugely disappointing once they got there.
The days of relying on the superstar displays of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are now over, and the task now is to rebuild with those star names on the fringes for Euro 2024.
As for England, it has to go down as the third near miss in the past three tournaments.
The standard of football at World Cups isn't as good as the top end of the Champions League or Premier League, and there surely has to come a moment when England's players, for all the millions they are worth and their performances at club level, make it count when it matters.
Who was your star player?
Boring answer but it has to be Lionel Messi. A sense of destiny took over his team and their fans and they were all carried along on a glorious ride.
Which was your favourite match?
Like Wales I was out after the group stages so I'll stick to games I was at and go for Argentina vs Mexico.
There was enormous pressure on Argentina after they'd lost to Saudi Arabia and the tension was high between two of the loudest sets of fans in Qatar. Then Messi scored that goal in the 64th minute and the Lusail Stadium erupted.
Best moment on the pitch?
From a personal point of view I'll never forget Bale's penalty against the USA, a moment of history, but as that didn't lead to anything much I'll go for the second half of Japan vs Spain.
All outcomes were possible and everyone was dividing their time between the pitch and he screens showing Costa Rica vs Germany. It was bedlam.
Best moment off the pitch?
Being surrounded by jubilant Saudi Arabia fans who could barely believe what they were seeing as they came back to beat Argentina.
Which set of fans stood out the most?
The Saudis, Mexico, Morocco and for a brief period Tunisia were all great, but the right answer is Argentina. They were on a journey with their team.
Sum up this World Cup in three words.
Memorable. Unpredictable. Weird.
... and our Mirror Football team covering the tournament back home
Samuel Meade
Goal of the tournament
Alvarez's second against Croatia, largely down to the assist that saw Messi turn Gvardiol inside out. A 'what did I watch' type moment.
Assist of the tournament
Messi for Molina against the Netherlands in the quarter-final. I don't think mortals would've seen that pass if they paused the game - he saw it in normal time.
Save of the tournament
Martinez denying Kolo Muani in the final. Seconds remaining and that left leg produces a save for the ages.
Best game that wasn't the final
Argentina's last eight win over the Netherlands. Goals, creativity, drama and bit of nastiness.
Player of the tournament 1-2-3
Messi, Mbappe, Amrabat.
Biggest disappointment
Germany's group stage exit just edges out Kane's second penalty against France.
Best moment
Messi kissing the World Cup having just been handed the Golden Ball - for a second time may I add.
Worst moment
The opening game - a realisation that a World Cup full of controversy was actually happening in the winter. Poor quality, stadium didn't even look full.
Lasting impression
Very enjoyable on the pitch, some excellent games and narratives, but the sideshow couldn't help but overshadow it and neither FIFA nor Qatar stuck to their earlier claims, which perhaps isn't surprising.
Tom Blow
Goal of the tournament
It's hard to look past Kylian Mbappe's second goal in the final. It may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing strike, but to hit the ball on the volley - in a game of that magnitude - is incredibly difficult.
Assist of the tournament
It has to be Lionel Messi's pass to Nahuel Molina in Argentina's quarter-final win against the Netherlands, where he played the ball through Nathan Ake's legs and eliminated three defenders. A ridiculous assist.
Save of the tournament
Another easy to decision. How Emiliano Martinez stopped Randal Kolo Muani in the dying seconds of extra-time in the final, I'll never know.
Best game that wasn't the final
The quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands was brilliant. Argentina were coasting before the Dutch scored two late goals to send the game into extra-time and then penalties. It was very similar to the final, actually.
Player of the tournament 1-2-3
Messi was the best player, although Mbappe was a very close second. I'll give the bronze medal to Emiliano Martinez for his heroics against the Netherlands and France.
Biggest disappointment
Wales waited 64 years to qualify for a second World Cup finals, but it wasn't worth the wait. A tournament too far for the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Best moment
He's got a lot of stick for it, but it was brilliant to see Sergio Aguero lift the World Cup. He's a legend who was part of that Argentina team for many years and deserved his moment.
Worst moment
Harry Kane copying Jonny Wilkinson with his second penalty against France in the quarter-finals.
Lasting impression
Messi with the trophy.
Kieran King
Goal of the tournament
Luis Chavez vs Saudi Arabia. There was little to aim at when Chavez stepped up to take his free-kick for Mexico in their game against Saudi Arabia but he fired a bullet straight into the top corner from 25 yards - the most powerful goal at the tournament at 75mph.
Assist of the tournament
Lionel Messi for Julian Alvarez vs Croatia. What a magical moment this was from Messi, who turned Josko Gvardiol inside out, before spinning towards the by-line.
He then had the composure to square for Alvarez to tap home. An excellent individual piece of brilliance.
Save of the tournament
Emiliano Martinez vs France.
With the final heading towards its conclusion, Martinez produced an excellent late save to ensure the tie went to penalties.
Randal Kolo Muani had gone clean through on goal and his effort looked destined for the corner, but the Aston Villa goalkeeper stuck out his left leg to divert the ball away from goal. What a save.
Best game that wasn't the final
Cameroon 3-3 Serbia.
It may seem a long time ago since Cameroon and Serbia played out a six-goal thriller at the Al Janoub Stadium, but it's a game that won't be forgotten by many who watched it as the Africans came from 3-1 down to draw in a topsy-turvy encounter.
Player of the tournament 1-2-3
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Azzedine Ounahi.
Undoubtedly, Messi deserves the Player of the Tournament, having put in some excellent performances and finishing on seven goals and three assists.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was the second best player despite notching the most goals (8) and Azzedine Ounahi should be credited with a terrific World Cup for Morocco.
Biggest disappointment
Despite scoring once in Wales' 1-1 draw against USA, Gareth Bale had a turgid tournament and produced some pretty bleak performances as his nation finished rock bottom of Group B.
Best moment
Saudi Arabia stunning Argentina.
Yes, it seems unthinkable that Argentina actually lost their first group game to a side ranked 51st in the world, but they actually did.
Herve Renard's side produced a remarkable performance to beat Argentina 2-1 on November 22, sparking jubilant and emotional scenes amongst the Saudi players and supporters in the stadium.
Worst moment
Football came to unison when it was confirmed that Grant Wahl had collapsed inside the Lusail Stadium and died at the tender age of just 48.
It had been later revealed that the US Journalist had died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
Lasting impression
One of the stories of the World Cup was Morocco's progression all the way to the semi-finals, becoming the first African team to reach that stage in the tournament's long history.
They were terrific throughout and managed to pick up some hefty scalps over the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal, before losing to France in spirited fashion and then running Croatia very close in the third-place playoff.
Dan Marsh
Goal of the tournament
Wout Weghourst vs Argentina.
Controversial maybe, but hear me out. To have the courage, let alone the imagination, to try such an outrageous routine in the final seconds of a knockout match at the World Cup defies belief. It may have counted for little in the end, but it was the first real 'wow' moment of the tournament for me.
Assist of the tournament
Lionel Messi vs Croatia.
Messi's outrageous run to tee up Julian Alvarez in Argentina's semi-final win over Croatia. He ran Josko Gvardiol, who was one of the best defenders of the tournament, ragged with feints before putting the ball on a plate for Alvarez. Magic.
Save of the tournament
Emiliano Martinez vs France.
Martinez made headlines again in a World Cup penalty shootout, but Argentina wouldn't have even got there were it not for their goalkeeper's stunning save to deny Randal Kolo Muani.
Martinez stuck out a big leg to deny Muani against the odds - and he followed it up with another blockbuster showing to dethrone France.
Best game that wasn't the final
Cameroon 3-3 Serbia
If I'm being completely honest, I wasn't expecting to be overawed when Cameroon and Serbia played in the final 10am game of the tournament.
But the six-goal thriller was by far the most exciting game until France and Argentina blew it out of the water during Sunday's showpiece final.
Player of the tournament 1-2-3
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Sofyan Amrabat.
It's hard to look beyond Lionel Messi for the player of the tournament: he inspired Argentina to their first World Cup victory since 1986 and became the first player to ever score in the group stage, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final in a single edition of the men's World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe deserves plenty of plaudits after picking up the Golden Boot. Sofyan Amrabat was at the heart of Morocco's historic run to the semi-final and upstaged bigger names in midfield throughout the tournament.
Biggest disappointment
Spain. After thrashing Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening match, Spain looked like the team to beat in Qatar. But Luis Enrique's side failed to emulate that performance and were dumped out in the Round of 16 by Morocco.
Best moment
Morocco's history-makers.
Their stunning win over Portugal and the scenes after the match were probably the standout moment of the tournament. Walid Regragui's side made history by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final - and they did it in style, too.
Worst moment
The untimely death of US journalist Grant Wahl was a tragic reminder that there is so much more to life than football.
Lasting impression
Lionel Messi's triumph just felt right.
I've never cared too much about the Messi/Ronaldo debate, but I have a newfound admiration for Messi after this tournament. He truly is the best - and it was only right that he bowed out of his final World Cup tournament as a winner.
What were your standout World Cup moments? Have your say in the comments section
Alan Smith
Goal of the tournament
This is easily forgotten because they exited the tournament with such a whimper but Brazil's first-half performance against South Korea was a joy to watch and epitomised by a luxurious team move that ended with Richarlison scoring.
Assist of the tournament
A toss up between Messi turning Josko Gvardiol, arguably the tournament's best defender, inside out three times before crossing to Julian Alvarez in the semi-final win over Croatia or his pass through the legs of Nathan Ake for Nahuel Molina against Netherlands in the quarter-final. Let's go with the latter.
Save of the tournament
Because of its importance, Emi Martinez's extra-time stop from Randal Kolo Muani with his left foot. A save to evoke memories of Peter Schmeichel at his very best.
Best game that wasn't the final
There were matches of far higher technical quality but Argentina scraping past the Netherlands - forever known as the Wout Weghorst game - was outstanding entertainment.
Player of the tournament 1-2-3
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Sofyan Amrabat
The first two are pretty obvious and because of Morocco's history-making run it felt right to put their best player in. Notable mention for Antoine Griezmann, too.
Biggest disappointment
FIFA announcing they will make $1bn more than expected from the tournament but still refusing to commit to the compensation fund human rights groups are demanding goes to migrant workers. On the pitch, Belgium's dismal performance.
Best moment
When Costa Rica led against Germany and, briefly, it looked like they would be heading through with Japan from Group E. A moment that has forced FIFA's hand to row back on plans to have three-team groups in 2026.
Worst moment
The treatment of Iran players and supporters calling for women in their country to be afforded basic human rights. Their peaceful protest, refusing to sing the national anthem against England, showed a courage that the UEFA nations who sacked off their armband gesture with the threat of a booking could not muster. But then they were threatened with reprisals if they did not sing before facing Wales and the USA.
Lasting impression
It should be Messi lifting the trophy but, as Roy Keane put it before the final, this tournament was tainted regardless of the football played. And when we look back on it 20 years from now it will be the various off-field disgraces that many of us will remember first.
