How Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, in their own words

On Dec. 18, 2022, Argentina won the males’s World Cup in the most dramatic approach attainable, beating France in a penalty shootout after a breathless 3-3 draw in Lusail, Qatar.

The sport was an prompt traditional, one among the greatest finals anybody may bear in mind, full of unforgettable moments. Lionel Messi delivered on the greatest stage of all, exorcising the ghosts of his 2014 heartbreak when Argentina had been crushed in the World Cup ultimate in Brazil. France’s Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick however nonetheless ended up on the dropping facet. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez starred with a jaw-dropping, last-gasp added-time cease from France’s Randal Kolo Muani earlier than saving twice in the decisive shootout.

The win gave Argentina a 3rd World Cup winners’ star on their shirts, following victories in 1978 and 1986. Only Brazil (with 5), Italy (4) and Germany (4) have extra. It additionally helped Messi reside as much as the legacy of the football-obsessed nation’s different nice hero — and architect of their 1986 triumph — Diego Maradona.

The drama of the ultimate was a becoming finish to Argentina’s roller-coaster journey by way of the event. It began with a shock 2-1 opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, bouncing again with nail-biting group-stage victories in opposition to Mexico and Poland, after which knockout stage wins over Australia, Netherlands — in one other shootout — and 2018 finalists Croatia.

To have fun the first anniversary of Argentina’s World Cup win, ESPN spoke to 10 members of the squad — Messi, Martinez, Ángel Di María, Enzo Fernández, Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolás Otamendi, Julián Álvarez and Cristian Romero — for the Star+ collection “Champions, One Year On.”

This is their story, in their own words.

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The World Cup group stage begins

Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina

Nov. 22, 2022. The event is 2 days previous and already has its first nice upset. Messi’s first-half penalty places Argentina forward, earlier than second-half objectives from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari see Saudi Arabia declare an historic win.

Lionel Messi: We had been assured in what we had been doing, with how we had been taking part in. We had been calm. We knew what we needed to do. Everything was flowing simply. Nobody considered that first sport, which in idea was the best in the group.

Enzo Fernandez: We knew how essential it was to win that first sport. We did not count on [to lose].

Rodrigo De Paul: It was actually robust. … With all due respect, we had been the favourites [against Saudi Arabia], so it was an enormous blow. For two days after that, you had been asking your self, “Why is this happening?”

Emi Martinez: What I bear in mind most was going into the dressing room afterwards, clearly devastated. … I sat down, began taking off my boots and gloves. And you might hear every part. … I bear in mind the silence.

Messi: After the loss, one million issues had been going by way of my head. They had been troublesome days.

Emi Martinez: I spoke to my psychologist lots. I mentioned, “I keep thinking that if we lose against Mexico I’m going home, and it’s killing me.” I’d fall asleep, get up and take into consideration that. … I mentioned, “I can’t go back to Argentina in 10 days.” Those three days had been so lengthy.

Alexis Mac Allister: The subsequent day [the coaching staff] let our households come in, to spend a while with them. I believe it was essential for the group. It is not simple being locked away in a lodge. It was actually essential to see our households, to select up some good vibes.

Messi: I let that day move, to overlook about what had occurred, after which I despatched a message to the group. And that is once we began to maneuver ahead. Everyone mentioned what they thought. We did not should throw it in every others’ faces. [The defeat] was unhealthy luck. It was about persevering with to consider in what we would been doing. We could not begin to doubt. We did not have to vary something. We simply needed to overlook about what had occurred and begin from scratch. Because if we won each video games, we would high the group.

Fernandez: That confirmed the energy of the group, the unity we had. We had been all pulling in the similar route. … After the Saudi Arabia sport, they had been all finals. We mentioned that. All or nothing. We had a gathering, and mentioned that from the second sport on, they had been all finals for us. That’s how we felt, and that is how we performed.

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Argentina 2-0 Mexico

Nov. 26, 2022. Coach Lionel Scaloni makes 5 adjustments to the staff crushed by Saudi Arabia. After a tense first hour, Messi breaks the impasse, taking pictures low into the backside nook from exterior the field, earlier than later offering the help for substitute Fernandez’s first worldwide aim. Argentina aren’t going residence but.

Messi: It was arduous, taking part in in opposition to Mexico. They’re at all times a troublesome opponent. We’ve performed them plenty of occasions, and we virtually at all times win, however it’s at all times troublesome.

Emi Martinez: Half-time in the Mexico sport was intense. We weren’t positive of what we had been doing, we weren’t ourselves. There had been plenty of nerves.

Alvarez: I used to be on the bench, and I do not suppose I’ve ever been so scared. I’ve by no means felt such worry. We had been this near being out of the World Cup in the second sport.

Fernandez: Whether we stayed at the World Cup or not relied on that end result. We knew it was an essential sport in phrases of morale, and fortuitously we had been capable of win. Leo [Messi] appeared with that magic left foot.

Messi: After that aim, the staff began to play as we had been doing. A weight was lifted. And it was a distinct sport. We knew the World Cup was beginning once more. The Mexico sport was the departure level.

Nicolas Otamendi: That’s the place we loosened up. For me it was one among the most essential video games at the World Cup. We needed to win, in any respect prices, to not depend upon different outcomes.

De Paul: In the first half, issues hadn’t gone nicely — fairly the reverse. But that day, the just one who may make us win was the No. 10. And he did. Again.

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Argentina 2-0 Poland

Nov. 30, 2022. This time, there is no drama. Mac Allister and Alvarez — now established as starters, alongside Fernandez — each rating in a 2-0 win, which suggests Argentina qualify for the spherical of 16 as group winners.

Emi Martinez: I knew that we had been going to steamroller Poland. They simply despatched lengthy balls as much as [Robert] Lewandowski. When groups sit deep, we transfer the ball round, and it is arduous [for them] to maintain a clear sheet. In each sport, groups sit deep, and we at all times discover a aim.

Messi: We respect all our opponents. After what occurred with Saudi Arabia, much more so. But we would studied Poland. If we had been on kind, we would beat them simply.

Mac Allister: After Poland, it turned a battle to the loss of life. I’m not saying we felt like champions, however we had been very optimistic that we may do it.

At 2-0, one second catches the eye: an on-field conflict between Messi and Poland’s Lewandowski. Messi had beforehand praised Lewandowski, saying he deserved to win the 2020 Ballon d’Or when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had since been angered by Lewandowski’s obvious suggestion that these feedback had been insincere.

Messi seems to intentionally dribble at Lewandowski, taking him on, after which shrug off an tried handshake from the ahead.

Messi: What [Lewandowski] had mentioned aggravated me. When I won the Ballon d’Or, and mentioned what I mentioned, I meant it. And for him to say what he mentioned … it aggravated me. Later on we met, we spoke and it was a misunderstanding. … I dribbled at him as a result of it was him. I used to be aggravated. I believed what he mentioned wasn’t proper. I used to be indignant.

Di Maria: I noticed it, you noticed it, my grandmother noticed it. That’s simply what [Messi] is like. … Sometimes he retains issues bottled up inside. And then he finally ends up throwing it in your face in an interview, or doing it to you on the soccer discipline. That’s his approach of speaking, and I believe it is regular. There are individuals who speak, and do not respect him, and do not realize he is the greatest participant of all time.

You should not say something to him. In the finish, he will get fired up, and it is worse.

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Argentina enters the World Cup knockout stage

Argentina 2-1 Australia

Dec. 3, 2022. The spherical of 16. Argentina face Australia, who completed second — stage on factors with France — in Group D. Messi places them forward along with his third aim of the event, pouncing on a unfastened ball inside the field, and Alvarez makes it 2-0.

Lionel Messi: I acquired the ball by likelihood. Ota[mendi] tried to regulate it. He noticed me and he stopped. I attempted to take it shortly, there wasn’t a lot area inside the field. I used to be shut [to goal] and the keeper reacted late, as a result of he did not count on it. It was a pleasant second.

A late own aim from Fernandez offers Australia hope, and keeper Martinez is required to make a sensible save in the final seconds of added time from substitute Garang Kuol.

Emi Martinez: When [Kuol] managed the ball, I noticed that Nico [Otamendi] could not assist me. He managed it so nicely that I needed to go and take care of it. … [After making the save] Everyone hugged me besides Cuti [Romero], who kicked me in the ribs. Typical Cuti. That’s his approach of exhibiting love.

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Argentina 2-2 Netherlands (4-3 penalties)

Dec. 9, 2022. The quarterfinals are subsequent, and after an harm scare in the days main as much as the sport, influential midfielder De Paul is cleared to play. Four hours earlier than Argentina’s quarterfinal with Netherlands is because of kick off in Lusail, archrivals Brazil are taking part in Croatia.

Messi: We left the lodge when Brazil went 1-0 up. When we had been getting near the stadium, [Croatia] scored the equaliser. In the dressing room, I used to be getting a therapeutic massage and the penalty shootout began. I used to be on my telephone. Kun [Aguero] was telling me about the penalties. I used to be face-down on the mattress, studying his messages.

Fernandez: We had been watching the shootout. I bear in mind when Brazil had been eradicated, we had been shouting, completely happy, and Scaloni comes in saying, “What are you doing, you idiots? We have to play a game now!” The sport with Netherlands was 10 minutes away, and we had been there celebrating in the dressing room. But it was good for our morale.

Argentina vs. Netherlands seems to be spectacularly bad-tempered. A World Cup file 18 yellow playing cards are proven by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz — eight for the Dutch, eight for Argentina and two for Scaloni and his assistant, Walter Samuel — in addition to a late pink card for Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries.

Alexis Mac Allister: They began it.

Nicolas Otamendi: We can combine it with the better of them.

Messi: I get aggravated when folks speak off the pitch, and present a scarcity of respect. I’ve by no means been like that. On the pitch, one million issues can occur, however it stays there. Before the sport, stirring issues up or missing respect, I’ve by no means executed that, and I do not prefer it when folks do it to me … I did not like that.

Messi is once more the inspiration for Argentina, establishing Molina’s first-half opener earlier than changing a penalty. He celebrates by cupping his ears in entrance of the Dutch bench.

Otamendi: We did not know Leo was going to do this. I believe it simply got here out in the warmth of the second. But they’d executed plenty of speaking.

Messi: I did it in the second. And I regretted it right away. As quickly as I did it, I believed, “What an idiot. … All that’s missing now is that we don’t win.” These issues occur.

From 2-0 down, Netherlands combat again. Forward Wout Weghorst scores twice, making it 2-2 in the eleventh minute of added time after receiving the ball from a intelligent free kick, slipping beneath Argentina’s defensive wall. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez recovers to grow to be the hero in Argentina’s first shootout of the event, saving the first two Dutch spot kicks from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.

Argentina’s decisive fifth penalty is scored by substitute Lautaro Martinez.

Lautaro Martinez: I used to be going to shoot arduous and to the proper. And I do not know why I paused [my run-up]. I used to take penalties like that, a very long time in the past. I missed a few penalties and I modified. And in that second I made a decision to pause. I noticed he was going that approach, and I modified my thoughts.

[The celebration] was about what it meant, how I’d suffered, how I’d began the World Cup, how my ankle was, and what it meant to be in the semifinals.

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Argentina 3-0 Croatia

Dec. 13, 2022. The semifinals. Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 with one other Messi penalty, and a brace from Julian Alvarez.

Messi: We’d performed Croatia at the final World Cup [in 2018] they usually scored 4 in opposition to us. But this was totally different. We knew if we acquired by way of, Croatia had been beatable.

Emi Martinez: The Croatia sport was the greatest all-round sport the staff performed.

Alvarez’s first aim is the results of a run that started simply inside the Croatia half; his second follows one among the strikes of the event, a mazy Messi dribble that twists defender Josko Gvardiol forwards and backwards, earlier than establishing Alvarez for a tap-in.

Julian Alvarez: I believe it was my greatest sport for the nationwide staff. When I scored the [first] aim, I did not even do not forget that I’d began from up to now out. Later I watched it. I acquired a little bit of luck, however it’s a terrific aim.

De Paul: People say that the sport in opposition to Croatia was simpler than in opposition to France [in the final] or Netherlands. But the actuality is that, over the course of the sport, we had been simply as comfy in all three video games. We had been at all times higher.

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Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 penalties)

Dec. 18, 2022. The World Cup ultimate.

Alvarez: I bear in mind speaking to Enzo [Fernandez], saying, “We’re going to play a World Cup final.” He was anxious for the sport to reach. But I wasn’t. I needed the sport to be over. I virtually did not wish to play.

Emi Martinez: My dad was saying do issues nicely, do not overplay it, do not make errors. Everyone was afraid of creating a mistake, however I used to be pondering simply the reverse. I’m going to play like I’ve performed all my life, with out worry, with confidence. Whatever occurs, I’m taking part in a World Cup ultimate.

Messi: I did not wish to even have a look at the trophy. They say you do not have a look at it, you do not contact it. So I did not, simply in case.

Scaloni — as he had executed all through the event — tweaks his staff once more, beginning Di Maria on the left wing. Di Maria rewards his supervisor by offering the ultimate contact to a lightning-quick counterattack, making it 2-0 in the thirty sixth minute after Messi had put Argentina forward from the penalty spot.

Messi: Our counterattack was superb. So quick. It was a terrific aim.

Di Maria: It was a spectacular transfer between three gamers, with one or two touches, as in the event that they had been taking part in in their neighbourhood. Inexplicable. Incredible.

Argentina look to be heading for a simple win, till two objectives in two minutes from Mbappé make it 2-2, forcing additional time.

Alvarez: We performed a terrific sport till the seventieth minute or one thing. And then in 5 minutes, every part modified.

Messi: I used to be indignant, as a result of the aim was right down to me dropping the ball, even when it was midway up the pitch. It was our ball.

Messi’s aim comes in the 108th minute. Hugo Lloris saves Lautaro Martinez’s shot, and Messi is there to bundle the ball over the line.

Lautaro Martinez: We had been celebrating. We hadn’t seen the assistant referee elevate the flag. The bench got here to have fun with us. The referee raised his hand, and we thought it had been disallowed. Then he pointed in direction of the centre circle, and we celebrated once more. We celebrated 3 times!

Julian Alvarez: When we made it 3-2, I mentioned, ‘Well that is that, nothing else goes to occur.’ We had been on the bench, watching the clock. [Angel] Di Maria was crying. And then they scored, and he was nonetheless crying.

Incredibly, that wasn’t that. In the 116th minute, France are awarded a penalty for a handball, and Mbappé converts to make it 3-3, although there was nonetheless time for yet one more second of insufferable rigidity. In the 123rd minute — seconds from a penalty shootout — France substitute Kolo Muani finds himself by way of on aim. His shot is low and highly effective, headed for the backside nook. Emi Martinez stands proud a protracted leg and makes the save.

Mac Allister: I believe I used to be one among the solely ones who reacted. They had been all in shock. Nobody may consider it.

De Paul: I did not see it, thank God. I used to be sat down, with ice on my leg. … I noticed [the save] two or three days later. I could not consider it. It’s iconic. It’s a second that may go down in historical past.

Otamendi: I realised I wasn’t going to get there [to the ball]. I attempted to clear it with my toes. But then the left foot of “the beast” [Martinez] saved it. I believe our hearts stopped. … Argentinians reside to undergo. It needed to be that approach.

Emi Martinez: If I come additional off my line, he’d chip me. If I keep on my line, he has the complete aim to intention at. I stayed someplace in between. He says, “If I control it, he takes it off me, I can’t go over him, so I’ll hit it.” I depart him that area, and when he hits it, I unfold myself and I block it. It may have gone in, if the shot was anyplace else it was a aim. And that is luck. I gambled. … It may have gone in, or not. But it stopped right here [pointing at his leg].

On to penalties. Messi and Mbappé had already taken three between them throughout the sport, scoring all three. They would go first in the shootout, too.

Romero: I stored pondering, “F—. After all that, this can’t end with a penalty shootout.” I do not forget that Leo took one, and scored. Mbappé scored. After that, I did not see any extra. I used to be on the flooring, praying.

Emi Martinez: I used to be calm. I knew that if I saved one, I’d put strain on them. [The save from Kingsley Coman] was key. But I made a mistake. I did not put it aside with my arms. I saved it with my chest, it went by way of my arms.

Romero: Dibu made a save, and I threw myself to the flooring. I used to be on my knees. [Coach] Pablo [Aimar] came to visit and mentioned, “Get up, get up, don’t be a coward, watch.” But I could not. I began praying much more. I prayed to God, to all the Saints, to the Virgin.

After Martinez saves from Coman, France midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni places his penalty extensive.

Emi Martinez: Look at this man’s face and inform me he is not nervous. I may see from the aim that he was useless. And I used to be pondering that if he missed, they had been midway out and we’re champions.

Argentina’s fourth penalty taker is defender Gonzalo Montiel. He scores, and Argentina are champions.

Messi: We had been calm as a result of Dibu [Martinez] had stored two out. We had extra of an opportunity. I informed [Montiel] that it was going to finish there, that it was throughout.

Alvarez: I did not speak to him. But I noticed a few of my teammates asking whether or not he was going to take it, if he needed to, as a result of he did not look so good. I believe Lautaro informed him he may take the kick, he was fifth. But when “Cache” is set, he by no means fails. I believe he’d taken eight or 9 penalties earlier than and scored all of them. He wasn’t going to allow us to down now.

Romero: It’s a second that stays with you. I achieved the greatest factor a footballer can dream of. I dreamt about this a lot. I remembered some lovely moments, some not so lovely, what I’d executed to get there. … Everything goes by way of your head in 5 minutes, and also you’re in tears.

Messi: I did not sleep with the cup. It was only a picture. We had been at the lodge. We had [the trophy] on the mattress. We took a few photographs, and posted them on social media.

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After Argentina grow to be World Cup champions

The focus, after all, is on Messi. Previously, his lack of a World Cup had been held up as proof that he couldn’t aspire to “greatest of all time” standing. Not anymore.

Messi: My household had suffered much more than me. The joys, in addition to the defeats. Putting up with all these years of criticism with the nationwide staff. My mum, my dad, my brother, my sister, my nephew who lives in Argentina and grew up there with all that. Always criticism, at all times killing me. It was a bit like saying, “That’s it, we did it, the biggest thing there is, the World Cup. That’s it, it’s over.”

Fernandez: I had 500 WhatsApp messages on my telephone, simply. Family, associates, acquaintances … I attempted to answer to everybody. It took some time.

Emi Martinez: It introduced the nation collectively: the wealthy, the poor, the center class. That’s what gave me the most satisfaction.

Messi: I knew God needed me to be world champion, that he was going to present it to me. I at all times believed in that. There had been plenty of massive obstacles alongside the approach. I actually suffered. I had a nasty time. Me, my household, the individuals who love me. It was very unfair. People mentioned all types of issues. But I do not bear a grudge. With humility and in silence I did my job.

It’s a victory for me, having turned that state of affairs round. Winning over the folks of Argentina. At occasions I used to be questioned. Today 95 or 100% of Argentinians love me, and that is lovely.

Thoughts quickly flip to the future, and whether or not Messi will stick round to steer this new era at the subsequent World Cup in 2026.

Messi: Time will inform if I can get to it or not. I’d be at an age [39] the place usually, you would not play a World Cup. I mentioned I did not suppose I’d be there. It felt like I used to be retiring after the World Cup and fairly the reverse, now I wish to be there greater than ever. After struggling for thus a few years, I wish to take pleasure in it … however with my age, the regular factor can be to not be there. Maybe it goes nicely at the Copa America and every part is in place to hold on. Maybe not. Being practical, it is troublesome.