The years will pass, decades will go by, yet the question will still be relevant: where were you when the greatest footballer of all time won the sport’s grandest prize?

For the 88,966 people at the Lusail Stadium, for the hundreds of thousands who were in Qatar, for the millions who were glued to their television sets, it will be an indelible, cherished memory. Wherever they were, they had witnessed a moment from history. 

The world had come to a standstill in anticipation that the cathartic moment of Lionel Messi’s life would come in Lusail. And when the 35-year-old Argentine kissed the World Cup trophy, having strived unsuccessfully for years to do just that, the cosmic balance had been achieved.

The cobwebs of the past, the painful memories, the questions, the doubts, had all been removed. The greatest footballer of all time had finally got his hands on the trophy that immortalises legends; one that elevates them to eternal greatness.

Messi had delivered in his last dance, even though he now seems to be walking, picking those moments to showcase his genius with his unwavering ability to still make a difference.

The narrative in the years gone by might be that the stars had aligned, that the universe had conspired for Argentina and Messi. Talk of predestination had already started when Messi guided Argentina through from the group stage after that defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the tournament in Lusail.

There was a sense of predestination always about Lionel Messi. The spectacular Qatar World Cup final and Argentina’s win proved it. The GOAT debate has finally been settled

“Where is Messi?” the Saudis had asked after a victory that had tilted the earth off its axis.

But the revival was swift; 26 days and a few hours later, Messi was lifting the World Cup in a gobsmacked climax to an incredible World Cup.

It was sumptuous, and for all that it entailed — 120 minutes followed by the penalty shootout and the heroics of Kylian Mbappe for France — there was always this feeling that this was Messi’s time, all the more so because it was now or never for him.

For all the issues that had become a major talking point in the lead-up to the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, Qatar will now forever be remembered as the place where Messi got his crowning glory.

That does not in any way imply, though, that the one-city nation — Lusail and Al Khor, whose Bedouin tent-shaped Al Bayt Stadium opened the tournament, are merely extensions of Doha — didn’t play its part in delivering a spectacular World Cup. It was perception-changing, myth-busting and era-defining in the end.

Qatar welcomed the world, provided a lens to all those who descended upon it to immerse in its culture and shone a light on Islamic values. All it had asked in return was to respect its traditions. The booze ban at the stadiums ensured there wasn’t a repeat of the scenes that marred the final of the European Championships just over a year ago at Wembley.

The reported $220 billion spent on bringing the World Cup to Qatar had paid off. Those who wanted football, got football. And they got heaps of it. The action was incredible; the drama unmatchable.

A lot of it came thanks to Morocco and the colourful, raucous support they brought with them. The wily Walid Regragui, their coach, never seemed unfazed by the spectre of the challenge. They fought and battled as equals — Belgium found that first and then Spain. It was their rip-roaring quarter-final victory over Portugal that ended the World Cup dream of Messi’s long-time nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The only question that remains is whether Ronaldo, who was relegated to the bench at the start of that last-eight game, goes for another crack at equalling Messi’s feat when the World Cup comes back in four years’ time. He would be 41 then — no player has won the World Cup at that age.

Even if he keeps on playing — Ronaldo is currently without a club — it’s unlikely Portugal would need him. They have the players to lead them into the future, the likes of Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.

It’s unlikely, too, that Luka Modric, the ageless Croatian midfield warrior, will be at the next World Cup. But at least, unlike his former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo, he left the tournament on a high, leading a side that keeps punching above its weight, reaching third place, which followed their runners-up finish four years ago in Russia.

Apart from Modric, Croatia’s campaign was helmed by defender Josko Gvardiol and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who were outstanding in a campaign in which they ousted Brazil on their way to the last four.

Looking to end a two-decade wait for the World Cup, Brazil came to Qatar with a lot of promise but, despite Neymar’s best efforts, the quarter-finals proved their ceiling once again. Coach Tite has left and the revamp under a new coach needs to come quickly, as their lodestar Neymar will be 34 at the next World Cup. 

With Mbappe, France don’t have such a problem. Football’s next big superstar had a stratospheric presence at the World Cup, especially in the final, when he almost single-handedly dragged France from the depths of despair to within sight of a second successive World Cup title in a final for the ages — perhaps the best of all time.

Argentina had a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes to go, only for Mbappe, a player so much like Messi in terms of picking his moments before delivering with his searing pace, astounding skill and phenomenal shooting ability, to force extra-time.

Messi’s moment of glory seemed to have arrived when he fired Argentina into the lead again but Mbappe drew France level once again. But on this night, the footballing gods were with Messi. There was an air of inevitability around Lusail; there was only going to be one winner. Mbappe’s time to regain the throne would probably come in the next World Cup.

When Argentina won on penalties, Messi took a moment to celebrate alone. There were no tears, as his teammates, his whole country — from Rosario, where he was born, to Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata — wept in joy. Instead, there was a smile.

Messi had walked out of the shadow of Diego Maradona, the man who led Argentina to their last World Cup triumph 36 years ago. He’d stepped into the pantheon of greats; he had in every sense ended the GOAT [greatest of all time] debate.

Argentinian fans had for long celebrated Maradona’s moment at Mexico City’s Azteca. Now their fondest memory will be of Lusail, a city which in 1986 didn’t even exist; the idea of Qatar hosting a World Cup was not even born.

And years on from now, it will be asked: where were you?

The writer is Dawn’s Sports Editor.
He tweets @UmaidWasim

Published in Dawn, EOS, December 25th, 2022