It was a really extraordinary World Cup each on and off the sector that culminated in Lionel Messi and Argentina’s fairytale victory over France in a basic remaining.
We witnessed the implosion of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy, Morocco’s magical run to the semi-finals, Kylian Mbappe do every little thing humanly potential however win the trophy, and failure for Germany, Brazil, Spain and others.
There was agony as soon as once more for England as Harry Kane skied his penalty in a heartbreaking exit to France.
However away from the soccer, there has by no means been such a controversial World Cup as Qatar 2022. The deaths of hundreds of migrant staff constructing stadiums, the banning of armbands selling LGBTQ+ rights, a last-minute U-turn on promoting beer and political protests over Iran made for an unsettling backdrop.
Sportsmail takes a glance again on the match with a collection of among the most evocative photographs.
The second of future for Lionel Messi as he accomplished his medal assortment and capped a fairytale profession by lifting the World Cup after Argentina’s win over France in a classic remaining
Argentina’s third World Cup victory – and their first since 1986 – sparked wild scenes of celebration again in Buenos Aires
A deflated Kylian Mbappe displays after a charming World Cup remaining, the place his personal hat-trick exploits proved not sufficient
The night time sky is illuminated by dozens of fireworks above the Doha Corniche because the hosts tried to placed on a World Cup present
Jordan Henderson (left) and Jude Bellingham (proper) fashioned a powerful partnership on and off the pitch throughout England’s run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They’re pictured celebrating Henderson’s aim from Bellingham’s help towards Senegal
Morocco have been the story of the World Cup – led by coach Walid Regragui (high), they defied all odds to make the semi-finals
Whereas Messi lastly claimed his World Cup, there was solely distress for his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped to the Portugal bench by coach Fernando Santos for the knockout rounds . No prizes for guessing who the main focus of consideration was
There was extra distress as soon as once more for Germany, who bombed out after the group levels for the second straight World Cup
A few of the stadiums in Qatar did present beautiful backdrops, such because the Lusail Stadium at nightfall right here, however the slick working of the match got here with a heavy human toll
Hundreds of migrant staff, primarily from the Asian subcontinent, died in excessive warmth constructing stadia and infrastructure
There was a catastrophe for World Cup sponsors Budweiser on the eve of the match with beer banned inside stadiums
Brazil fell brief as soon as once more, with Neymar and his team-mates surprised by Croatia in a penalty shoot-out within the quarter-finals
Morocco eradicated Spain after which Portugal however reigning champions France proved a step too far for them within the semi-finals
Argentina’s participant returned dwelling within the early hours to seek out tons of of hundreds of followers ready to rejoice with them
England captain Harry Kane was profitable together with his first penalty within the quarter-final with France (left) – however crucially he despatched his second one excessive over the crossbar late on (proper)
Goncalo Ramos was one of many breakout stars of the match – he changed Ronaldo for Portugal’s last-16 match with Switzerland and proceeded to attain a hat-trick
Catch me when you can! Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is pursued by his team-mates after Brazil’s Marquinhos rues his missed penalty within the quarter-final shoot-out
Pyrotechnics explode round a large reproduction of the World Cup trophy forward of the ultimate between Argentina and France
The African groups can at all times be relied upon so as to add a splash of color to any World Cup and these Senegal followers have been no exception forward of their group stage sport with the Netherlands
The match began with debate over the OneLove armband, which the captains of a number of European nations have been planning to put on till FIFA identified they’d obtain a yellow card. The organisers then got here up with their very own model
The choice to ban the OneLove armband led to this coated mouth protest from the Germany crew earlier than their sport
FIFA president Gianni Infantino proved as slippery and evasive as ever when it got here to issues of human rights in Qatar
Iranian followers present their solidarity with girls protesting for his or her rights within the nation forward of their sport with England
Morgan Freeman performed a cameo position within the opening ceremony – one thing the BBC determined to not display screen on essential protection
Croatian mannequin Ivana Knoll was an attraction at their matches – however her skimpy outfits did not depart the locals too happy
Wales went dwelling after the group stage and it was their defeat to Iran that precipitated all of the harm to their marketing campaign
United States worldwide Sergino Dest displays on their last-16 defeat to the Netherlands in a quiet second of solitude
Spain remained a way in need of their greatest as they have been crushed on penalties by Morocco within the spherical of 16
There was tragedy among the many press pack when esteemed American journalist Grant Wahl died whereas reporting on the match between Argentina and Netherlands within the quarter-finals
Two kids in Argentina shirts play soccer beneath the fluttering flags in Doha because the world got here to their city
A sliding doorways second in a basic remaining because the Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez retains out a last-gasp shot from France participant Randal Kolo Muani within the dying moments of additional time
Mbappe might have received the comfort of the Golden Boot for main scorer however he walked previous the principle prize
Echoes of Diego Maradona in 1986 as Lionel Messi is lifted aloft, trophy in hand, by his victorious Argentina team-mates
