From Golden Glove to Player of the Tournament- Here's a look at the honours bagged at the epic ARG-FRA final

After a month of enthralling World Cup action, we finally have the champions of the 2022 edition. La albiceleste captain Lionel Messi powered his side to their third title victory on Sunday night. In what was probably the best football match, Messi and co held their nerves at the very end to lead Argentina to glory. The Rosaria born legend also bagged the Golden Ball as he was named the tournament’s best player. 

Argentina talisman Lionel Messi eventually grabbed the World Cup championship following a tense penalty shootout between Argentina and reigning champions France in Qatar on Sunday, joining Pele and Diego Maradona in the pantheon of the beautiful game's greatest players. Argentina defeated a France team headed by Kylian Mbappe in the final of the Qatar World Cup at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina won their third World Cup title with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory in Qatar.

By scoring a sensational brace against the 2018 winners, Messi has presented his strongest side to be hailed as the greatest player of all time. While the number 10 mustered to find the back of the net twice, his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe earned heaps of praise by scoring a record-levelling hattrick in a game which was definitely not for the faint hearted. The zestful  duo of PSG was honoured for their match changing performances in the just concluded World Cup final.

Messi writes another chapter in the history books with his 2nd Golden Ball

The leading goal scorer in Argentina’s history of the World Cup, Messi broke multiple records in the riveting final. He scored seven goals in the 2022 edition of the showpiece event. The 35 year old was awarded the Golden Ball for being the best player at World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Messi, who has found the back of the net on 26 occasions for Argentina in major international tournaments, is the only player to win the Golden Ball twice (2014 and 2022). 

Mbappe wins the Golden Boot race

Mbappe led France’s epic comeback in the six goal thriller by scoring a match saving hattrick. The prolific goal scorer edged past Messi in the Golden Boot race with his spectacular performance against Argentina. He also became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final after England’s Geoff Hurst (1966 vs Germany). The 23 year old scored 8 goals to finish as the top scorer of the tournament. 

Emiliano Martinez wins Golden Glove; Fernandez named Best Young Player

Not only the world cup, but Argentina sweeped multiple honours at the grand finale with Argentina andBenfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez winning the ‘Young Player of the tournament’ award.  The 21 year old scored his first goal ever for Argentia in a do or die encounter against Mexico in the group stages. His teammate and penalty specialist Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove. Aston Villa’s star goalkeeper Martinez secured three clean sheets in seven appearances for his national side in their title winning campaign. He also managed to save three penalties in World Cup shootouts.