Yes, do cry, Argentina

After a month and 64 matches, 88,966 fans filled the $770 million Lusail Stadium plus millions more around the world, in some parts losing sleep, to watch the Leo Messi-Kylian Mbappe show, and what a show that was.  It was a classic and was described by sportscasters as the best WC ever.  Wonder no more why it is called ‘the beautiful game’.

La Albiceleste swarmed over France in the first half with Messi and Angel Di Maria scoring goals.  Les Bleus recovered in the second half and capitalizing on Argentina’s defensive miscues, Mbappe scored two goals in a span of ninety seconds.

Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris of France and Emiliano Martinez of Argentina did great saves, but it was Martinez who had the best save in the closing minutes of extra time.

A 2-2 tie after regulation led to a 30-minute extra time which still ended in a 3-3 draw.  A penalty shootout gave Argentina the win, dethroning the defending champions.

Argentina thus becomes the world’s fourth most successful national football team in FIFA World Cup history with three tournament victories.  They first won the trophy in 1978 and in 1986.  Brazil has the most WC trophies with 5 followed by Germany and Italy with 4 each.

A record-breaking total prize money of $440 million is allocated by FIFA for the Qatar World Cup.  All 32 teams recieve a share, the amount dependent on each team’s performances and progress in the tournament.

Of the 16 nations that were dropped from the group stages, they get $9 million each.  The 8 teams that lost in the knockout stage get $13 million.  The four beaten quarter-finalists goes home with $17 million. 

In the semis, fourth place Morocco got $25 million, Croatia had $27 million for placing third.  France gets $30 million and Argentina gets the top prize of $42 million.  Each country’s football federation decides on how the prize money will be divided among players and team staff.  Usually, it is already decided how prior to the start of the tournament, with performance objectives given out.

Mbappe and France could not repeat their 2018 World Cup triumph.  It was so near yet so far for the French.  Messi finally got out of the great Diego Maradona’s shadow and had established himself as this generation’s GOAT.  Well, it does help when you have a Pope from Argentina praying for victory.

So cry, Argentina, cry.  Shed happy, happy tears.

In a week, Messi and Mbappe will join Neymar and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi to combine forces in defending Paris St. Germain’s title in the Ligue 1, France’s top tier professional football league.  PSG is France’s most successful club with 10 titles.  Owned by the Emir of Qatar, it is the richest club in France and 7th most valuable football club in the world.  To my knowledge, they’re the only European football team with a multi-level store along 5th Avenue in NYC.