OFFICIAL: Messi is crowned player of the World Cup with 7 goals & 3 assists

OFFICIAL: Messi is crowned player of the World Cup with 7 goals & 3 assists

The Argentina captain has been key in the Albiceleste’s third World Cup win bagging two goals in the final against France.

Despite finishing second in the race for the Golden Boot award, Leo Messi can add the World Cup 2022 Golden Ball award to his winner’s medal after a rollercoaster of a final match at Lusail on Sunday.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Argentine were good value for their 2-0 lead before France stunned the South Americans with two Kylian Mbappe goals in two minutes. Extra time saw both sides score again before a penalty shoot-out saw the Albiceleste prevail 4-2 on spot kicks.

Messi magic

Lionel Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in every round of a single edition of the tournament after putting Argentina ahead against France in Sunday’s final and few would dispute the Argentine winning the Golden Ball award which recognises the best player at the tournament.

The PSG player has stated that Qatar will be his last World Cup and question marks now surround the next chapter for the Rosario born player with the player strongly linked to a move to MLS side Inter Miami.

Seven goals for Argentina in Qatar and the image of the 35-year-old twisting and turning in the build-up for the  third goal in the semi-final will live long in the memory of the finest player in the history of the game.

He is the only player in football history to win the golden ball twice.

Leo Messi in the World Cup:

- 7 goals

- 3 assist

- 7 big chances created

- 5 MOTM

- Scored in two penalty shoot-outs

- Best player of the tournament

One of the greatest individual displays in the history of the World Cup.