Argentina defeated France on penalties in a nail-biting World Cup final, and the 2022 World Cup awards were also presented.
Some of the biggest stars in football were recognized in Qatar after some outstanding performances.
Lionel Messi of Argentina was the Golden Ball Award winner.
Messi’s World Cup was officially over when he was proclaimed the winner of the competition.
The 35-year-old finally won the biggest award in football, scoring seven goals on the way to raising the trophy into the night sky above Qatar.
He won the individual award a second time and made history by becoming the first man to score in the last 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final of the same edition.
Kylian Mbappe of France received the Golden Boot Award.
Before their match in Lusail, the France forward and Messi were tied on five goals.
He would go on to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final, being the first person to do so since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966. He did this by saving two penalties and scoring a beautiful goal to force extra time.
With eight goals throughout the finals, he matched Ronaldo’s total from 2002, but it was not enough for France to keep the Cup. At the age of 23, Mbappe may still have plenty of goals left in him.
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez won the Young Player Award.
There were many candidates for Qatar’s top young player.
Had England not been defeated in the quarterfinals, Aurelien Tchouameni of France and Jude Bellingham would also have been contenders.
But Fernandez, a combative and persistent midfielder who is also good in possession and a driving force in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina at the youthful age of 21, was excellent throughout the finals.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was given the Golden Glove Award.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper saved two shots against the Netherlands in both of Argentina’s penalty shootout victories, and he stopped Kingsley Coman’s attempt against France in the championship game.
His presence was also undeniable, and he brilliantly stopped Randal Kolo Muani one-on-one to save France from pulling off a thrilling comeback victory.
England received the Fair Play honor.
In the end, England did not leave Qatar empty-handed.
The team of Gareth Southgate completed the group stage without receiving even a single caution, and they continued that streak by defeating Senegal 3-0 in the round of 16.
Only in their quarterfinal loss to France did they cause trouble for the referee’s notebook, as Manchester United captain Harry Maguire received a caution with the game on the line for England.
