The Albiceleste lifted the World Cup trophy for a third time, and GOAL outlines the players who found the back of the net most often in this thrilling tournament.
Argentina claimed football’s ultimate prize in Qatar 2022 after an edge-of-seat final against France that finished 3-3 in extra time and moved to penalties, where Argentina prevailed 4-2. Naturally, the team’s heartbeat was Lionel Messi, the nation’s idol and a symbol of a generation that grew up dreaming of this exact moment.
For Messi, the tournament carried both a personal mission and a historic milestone for the country. The dream was to crown his illustrious career with the one title that had eluded him for years. Yet beyond lifting the trophy, there was another personal target: to become the Argentine with the most World Cup goals. He began the knockout stage chasing records and, by the time penalties were finished, Messi stood with 13 goals in World Cup play, overtaking the legendary Gabriel Batistuta. Batistuta had claimed 10 goals across the USA 1994, France 1998, and Korea-Japan 2002. Messi’s late double against France sealed a remarkable total, and a final flourish that many expected but few could have predicted.
Messi’s journey through the tournament was a masterclass in resilience. He found the net against opponents from Poland to Australia, from Mexico to the Netherlands, and from Croatia to a France side that pushed Argentina to the brink. The road was never straightforward—the path to glory included a penalty miss early in the group stage, a reminder that even the best can ride the edge of luck and skill in this competition. Still, the narrative remained clear: the captain led with courage, faith, and an unyielding will to prevail.
The campaign also highlighted which teams and players tested Argentina most, turning the quest for glory into a showcase of strategic brilliance and individual brilliance alike. The world watched as a squad forged identity through collective effort, tactical discipline, and moments of individual genius that defined the arc of the tournament. The tale wasn’t only about Messi; it celebrated a roster that stood up to every challenge and answered with decisive performances when it mattered most.
TOP ARGENTINE SCORERS IN THE WORLD CUP
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Source: Goal