FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi clinches Golden Ball award

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By  India Blooms News Service   Dec 19, 2022

Doha: Argentinas World Cup hero Lionel Messi won the best player award while French star Kylian Mbappe clinched the Golden Boot award after a thrilling final played between the two nations in Qatar on Sunday.

Argentina defeated France by 4-2 margin in a dramatic penalty shootout to lift the title. Both the teams were tied at 3-3 after the completion of regular and extra time.

Messi, who is the captain of the Argentina squad and led the country to win their third World Cup title, netted seven goals in seven games and became the first player to score in each round of the same World Cup ever since the last-16 round was introduced in the signature football event in 1986.

Messi had also won the same award in 2014.

Argentina was defeated in the final of the 2014 edition of the showpiece event.

Kylian Mbappe top scored the tournament with eight goals.

He hit a hat-trick in the crucial final to bring back France in the game that was initially dominated by Argentina.

Emiliano Martinez of Argentina won the golden glove.