Messi scored twice to help Argentina defeat France in the final played at Lusail Stadium
By Kehinde Okeowo
Inter Miami striker, Lionel Messi has revealed that he was destined to lift the 2022 World Cup trophy held in Qatar, saying “God wanted” him to win the tournament.
Argentina defeated France via a penalty shoot-out in the finals of the World Cup despite beginning the competition with a 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia.
Messi scored twice in the final played at Lusail Stadium to help his country defeat France.
However, after a few controversial calls during the tournament, some football fans alleged the competition was designed to help the Argentina captain win his first World Cup.
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But speaking in the Star+ documentary ‘Champions, a year later’ Messi disagreed, saying God wanted to crown his illustrious career with a World Cup win.
He said: “I said it many years ago, I was sure that I was going to be world champion. It was before losing the final in Brazil.
“Then it happened. I had something that I knew that God wanted me to be world champion, that he was going to give it to me. I always trusted that.
“There were many stumbling blocks along the way, because I had a really bad time, but in the end, it happened.”