International media reactions to the World Cup final
France:
“RMC Sports”: “Messi and the Albiceleste on the roof of the world despite heroic French and a hat-trick from Mbappé.”
“Le Parisian”: “The Blues are close to the miracle, Messi and the Albiceleste world champions. Didier Deschamps’ team came so close, but they couldn’t win the third star.”
“Le Figaro”: “Defeated by Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste, the Blues let their world title slip away.”
“L’Equipe”: “Fatal tears. After a final with a surreal scenario, perhaps the most beautiful in history, Argentina won the World Cup by beating the French team on penalties.”
Argentina:
“La Nacion”: “World Champion! Messi’s Argentina touches the sky in Qatar. (…) Argentina World Champion. Argentina World Champion. We have to repeat it to internalize it. Argentina World Champion. Argentina World Champion. You did it. You did it. We have waited 36 years. Three generations. Now the goal has been achieved.”
“Ole”: “Eternal glory, Messi. Argentina are world champions with Messi as their defining figure. The world is a fairer place today. Glory to God, Glory to Messi. Fate, which so often seemed to treat him so cruelly, had the best revenge in store for him, the day he dreams of, the World Cup he dreams of, the consecration that will be forever. Today Messi has passed into eternity. Today he is forever a hero to those who supported him from the beginning and to those who later joined him. Today Messi will be the best player in history – sorry Diego.”
Great Britain:
“The Sun”: “THE best final ever. The best football game ever, for sure. Slightly confused Fifa boss Gianni Infantino claimed yesterday that it was the best World Cup ever and after a nerve-wracking, amazing and absolutely breathtaking game of football, he’s probably right.”
“Daily Mail”: “Argentina in dreamland! Lionel Messi wowed the Lusail Stadium when he finally realized his dream of winning the World Cup and led Argentina to glory in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against France in one of the best finals in history.”
“Guardians”: “Lionel Messi has his winner’s medal and the weight of the world is visibly lifted from his shoulders. He’s smiling, beaming like a little boy, just a happy guy. What an idea! What a career! What a finale.”
Switzerland:
“View”: “An endgame for eternity. Argentina dramatically wins a final for the history books in penalty shootouts and is world champion for the third time.”
Italy:
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Argentina is world champion, Messi like Maradona. France knocked out on penalties”
Corriere della Sera: “Argentina is world champion. It’s Leo’s World Cup, but honor for Mbappé.”
Spain:
“Marca”: “Messi, now you have your trophy. You deserve it.”
“Mundo Deportivo”: “Messi and Argentina have their world title. In a historic final, Argentina claimed the third star after beating a great French team on penalties. Leo was key to the success with two goals against a fighting Mbappé who scored a hat-trick.”
UNITED STATES:
Los Angeles Times: “As a seven-time world player, Messi has won practically everything there is to win in international football and yet for most of his career has played in the shadow of Diego Maradona, who guided Argentina to that last World Cup title in 1986. The win on Sunday takes away that shadow.”
“Washington Post”: “It seemed unfair that following these waves of vibrant and imperfect football that produced the greatest final game theater ever seen, a penalty shootout would determine the winner.”