Argentina have been the final word winners in Qatar as they clinched the 2022 World Cup trophy in an epic last they gained on penalties – however there have been quite a few winners and losers all through the event already.
Lionel Messi has starred for his nation, sitting second for many objectives and high of the assists chart, with Antoine Griezmann additionally drawing reward for his performances for Les Bleus, in addition to a number of nations upsetting the chances in Qatar.
However for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mexico and Budweiser, it has been a event to neglect. Right here, Sportsmail takes a have a look at the winners and losers to return out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina beat France within the World Cup last however there have been many winners and losers in Qatar
Winners
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is effectively on the right track to select up the participant of the event award in Qatar, with the second-most objectives (seven) and most assists (three) on the competitors heading into the ultimate, which means he has had a hand in eight of his aspect’s 12 objectives.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has performed all the pieces for his workforce and appears to be on the verge of successful the World Cup that many imagine separates him from a spot alongside Diego Maradona and Pele within the footballing pantheon.
It’s his final event however Messi is actually signing off in model – and exhibiting his previous rival Cristiano Ronaldo up within the course of along with his stellar performances.
Lionel Messi loved an outstanding event as he scored seven and gained the Golden Ball
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has been France’s underrated star of the World Cup
After enjoying the starring position for Les Bleus at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, it had appeared Antoine Griezmann’s place within the solar had come to a detailed, however the Atletico Madrid ahead has confirmed that he can nonetheless minimize the mustard for France.
Not solely is he tied with Messi on three assists, however he has performed it from a far deeper position than we’d usually discover him in, drawing comparisons with one of many world’s main defensive midfielders, N’Golo Kante, from team-mate Paul Pogba.
Griezmann has not scored for France in Qatar, however that’s what Kylian Mbappe is within the aspect for. As an alternative, he has confirmed the right hybrid midfielder for his aspect, making 11 tackles, six interceptions, three blocks and 5 clearances – in addition to breaking his nation’s all-time help document.
He additionally registered a 74th consecutive look for France of their shootout defeat within the last on Sunday.
Morocco
Undoubtedly the story of the event has been Morocco’s heart-warming run to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
A workforce no person would have suspected to trigger such an uproar, the Atlas Lions toppled World Cup winners Spain, in addition to Belgium and Portugal on their approach to turning into the primary African aspect to achieve the final 4 in historical past.
Walid Regragui, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi and Yassine Bounou weren’t names the typical soccer fan was acquainted with earlier than the event, however they’ve ensured they are going to stay lengthy within the reminiscences of spectators due to their incredible, gutsy performances in Qatar.
Walid Regragui’s aspect grew to become the primary African workforce to achieve the semi-finals of a World Cup
Manchester Metropolis
There may be not a membership supervisor on this planet who wouldn’t have been watching the World Cup via their fingers and with gritted tooth, however Pep Guardiola may have maybe been essentially the most on edge.
Manchester Metropolis had essentially the most gamers in motion in Qatar (17), so the stakes have been maybe greater for Guardiola and Co than every other aspect, nevertheless none of their key stars made it previous the ultimate 4 aside from second alternative striker Julian Alvarez.
England, Portugal and Spain had all fallen by the top of the second spherical, which means the previous Barcelona boss might sit again and benefit from the motion as his aspect took house £4.5million from FIFA in compensation – greater than every other aspect.
Pep Guardiola’s Man Metropolis pocketed £4.5m on account of having 17 gamers in motion in Qatar
Harry Maguire
There are only a few England followers who would have seen Harry Maguire’s title on Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad listing and been stuffed with confidence and religion within the Manchester United skipper.
However Maguire appeared to forged apart the cloud of doubt and hypothesis that has plagued him for what looks as if years and put in a really stable if unspectacular exhibiting for the Three Lions in Qatar.
Maguire made 18 clearances, 4 interceptions, seven tackles and three blocks for England, leaving Erik ten Hag calling for him to convey his type house with him – particularly with common centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane each making Sunday’s last.
Harry Maguire forged apart a lot of the doubt and hypothesis surrounding him on the World Cup
The Underdogs
Morocco making the semi-finals of the World Cup is likely one of the nice sporting underdog tales, however they weren’t the one aspect in Qatar to upset the chances.
Japan managed to muscle previous each Spain and Germany to complete high of Group E – albeit by the barest of margins – Tunisia beat France 1-0, and Australia noticed off Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark by the identical scoreline.
However maybe the largest upset of all got here on simply the third day of the event, when Messi’s Argentina had their 36-game unbeaten run ended by minnows Saudi Arabia, the primary of what was to turn out to be a sequence of massive group stage upsets in Qatar.
Salem Al-Dawsari’s sealed one of many best World Cup upsets of all time towards Argentina
Olivier Giroud
AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud has by no means been thought of one of many nice strikers of all time, however the Qatar World Cup proved to be the stage for him to make a case for him being his nation’s best ever No 9.
A scorer of nice objectives, sure, however not an incredible goalscorer.
After equalling Thierry Henry’s 52-goal tally towards Poland, the previous Arsenal and Chelsea striker headed house the winner towards England within the quarter-finals to tug away from the person many think about to be essentially the most deadly striker in historical past.
Giroud made headlines for not having a single shot on track in Russia, however in Qatar he made certain that his exploits in entrance of objective can be talked about in all the precise methods.
Olivier Giroud scored a record-breaking 54th objective for France within the quarter-final vs England
LOSERS
Cristiano Ronaldo
As good as Messi has been in Qatar, Cristiano Ronaldo has come far wanting expectations along with his performances for Portugal on the World Cup.
The 37-year-old got here into the event on the again of an explosive tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, and leaves with out a membership after leaving United by mutual consent, and he’s nonetheless in search of a brand new house.
Ronaldo was dropped for the primary time since Euro 2008 in a knockout recreation of a serious event, and he did not win Fernando Santos again spherical – as an alternative he was seen strutting off the pitch on his personal after a 6-1 win over Portugal, earlier than leaving the sector in tears with none of his team-mates consolations towards Morocco.
Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of many best to ever play the sport – there’s an argument that he’s the perfect ever in his personal proper – however his repute may have taken an almighty hit after his poor exhibiting in Qatar, with only one dubiously-won penalty objective.
Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped at a serious event for the primary time since 2008
Mexico
An unlikely contender for the World Cup’s most constant workforce in historical past, Mexico had not failed to achieve the second spherical since 1978, however they fall manner wanting expectations in 2022.
El Tri have been woeful going ahead for almost all of their three group video games, with their solely objectives coming from an outrageous free-kick and a tap-in from two yards out.
Former Barcelona supervisor Gerardo Martino left his position as coach of the nationwide workforce after 66 video games on account of the aspect’s poor exhibiting. Not even cult hero Guillermo Ochoa might encourage any magic from the Mexicans as they limped out sooner than they may have anticipated.
Even cult hero Guillermo Ochoa got here up quick for Mexico as they crashed out within the teams
Budweiser
Budweiser had a nightmare World Cup, after Qatar made a controversial U-turn on the sale of alcohol at event venues, regardless of the American beer firm’s £63m sponsorship deal.
Consequently, what was set to be an extremely financially useful winter for Budweiser, has left them purple within the face, with Qatar officers even attempting to ban the beer from the corporate’s personal lodge.
The embarrassment doesn’t cease there, although. Because the event sponsors they’ve the honour of getting their emblem emblazoned on the Participant of the Match awards, that are certain to obtain loads of air-time and digicam consideration and due to this fact earn the corporate massive cash.
However provided that the brand is on present. Quite a few stars – together with PSG ahead Mbappe – refused to indicate the beer model’s emblem on receipt of their award, with the Frenchman not wanting to advertise the consumption of alcohol or junk meals.
A ban on the consumption of alcohol was introduced simply two days earlier than the beginning of the event
Kylian Mbappe hid Budweiser’s title after successful the participant of the match 3 times on the Qatar World Cup to date
Belgium
They might have entered the event as one of many favourites as soon as once more, however Belgium actually didn’t play prefer it as they stumbled out of the competitors within the group phases.
After a desperately lucky win over Canada regardless of being miles off the tempo, Roberto Martinez’s aspect grew to become the primary victims of giant-killers Morocco earlier than labouring to a 0-0 draw with Croatia and crashing out after scoring simply as soon as within the event.
To make issues worse, there have been rumours of mass discontent within the Belgian dressing-room considered attributable to Kevin de Bruyne’s strategies that the workforce have been too previous to win the event, and the squad splitting into a number of teams to journey house.
Martinez left his position as supervisor – regardless of boasting a 70% win document in command of the Purple Devils – and the remainder of the workforce will hope to keep away from as a lot point out of the competitors as potential shifting ahead.
Kevin De Bruyne’s feedback the squad’s age reportedly sparked disagreements within the camp
Roberto Martinez confirmed he was stepping down as Belgium’s coach after the event
Qatar
With a lot of the pre-tournament debate raging over whether or not Qatar ought to have even been awarded a World Cup within the first place, the workforce did not take any of the strain away by acting on the pitch.
They grew to become the primary ever host nation to complete on zero factors, having misplaced each recreation, and have been the one ever workforce to lose their opening match as hosts in World Cup historical past.
There was little or no expectation going into the competitors, however organisers may have hoped for no less than a couple of objective when they’re busily trying to persuade critics that there’s certainly a soccer pedigree within the nation.
Almoez Ali and Qatar did not win a single level on the World Cup and solely scored as soon as – towards Senegal in a 3-1 defeat
Neymar
Neymar was in tears after his aspect have been knocked out after a penalty shoot-out
Brazil appear to be everybody’s second workforce – barring perhaps Argentina followers – and there was a real perception that Tite might win the World Cup for a nation that lives, bleeds and breathes soccer, perhaps extra so than every other aspect.
However their talisman was unable to take them again to the highest of world soccer, with Neymar solely managing to play in three video games after selecting up an harm towards Serbia within the opening recreation.
He returned within the spherical of 16 and scored towards each South Korea and Croatia after lacking two group matches, however inexplicably selected to not take the all-important fourth penalty in his aspect’s shoot-out defeat to Croatia.
With the Selecao needing to attain their spot-kick to have any hope of remaining within the workforce up stepped centre-back Marquinhos, who’s effort smashed again off the publish to consign his aspect to a quarter-final exit. It was not his fault – he was most likely simply as bemused as everybody watching on that Neymar didn’t step up.
The 30-year-old has stated it will likely be his last World Cup look, though he’ll solely be 34 when the subsequent event roles round, however after his personally disappointing finish to Brazil 2014, he may have been hoping for a lot higher this time round.
The 30-year-old picked up an harm within the group phases and missed two matches for Brazil
Referees
Final however not least, the refereeing on the World Cup has come beneath intense scrutiny and acquired unprecedented backlash, after a string of sub-par performances in Qatar.
We’re unused to listening to gamers come out within the media and complain about refereeing, however each Maguire and Jude Bellingham each made their opinions clear within the after math of Wilton Sampaio’s closely criticised exhibiting within the quarter-finals.
However he as not alone. Daniele Orsato was blasted by Luka Modric after Croatia’s semi-final loss to Argentina, Morocco launched an official criticism towards Cesar Ramos from their final 4 tie with France and Mateu Lahoz was solely despatched house after brandishing 15 yellow playing cards in Holland’s assembly with Messi and Co.
At a event showcasing the world’s finest abilities on the pitch, the minimal expectation is that these in command of proceedings can stay as much as the duty, however from the proof on present in Qatar there’s nonetheless fairly a gulf in that respect.
Mateu Lahoz dished out an unimaginable 15 yellow playing cards throughout the Argentina vs Holland conflict
