Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay at Lusail Stadium

Qatar World Cup ends with greatest final and a coronation for Lionel Messi

The emir of Qatar dresses Lionel Messi in a traditional bisht as the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, looks on
The emir of Qatar (left) dresses Lionel Messi in a traditional bisht as the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, looks on. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

After 12 years, shredded schedules and a whirl of geopolitics; after death and ghosts and suffering; after armbands, hard power, the Davos in the desert vibe; after 64 games of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Lusail Stadium dished up a purely sporting surprise.

This was the greatest Fifa World Cup final. It was also a third World Cup victory for Argentina, who beat France on penalties at the end of a wildly oscillating 3-3 draw.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.