Contrast the dismay of 2016 to the incomparable joy of 18th December, 2022 and it speaks for closure. For years, the generation has seen an inability to crown a defining footballing figurehead. The 80s had Maradona, the early 2000s had Ronaldo and the 60s had Pele. The others existed, but the defining characters became known for etching storylines, symbolising cultures and winning the World Cup. It set them apart. The generation, before today, lacked that one token that would mark what the era was all about. France winning the tournament once again would have symbolised that the generation would be stuck in a duality forever, constantly chattering about a comparison between players of different contexts. But Messi’s World Cup win, if anything, might be the fitting closure of an era in football that will never be seen again.

Messi’s brace and performance – especially the second goal, arrived in the midst of pandemonium and a chaotic game of football. But they rightly say that art thrives in chaos and Messi winning the World Cup is certainly proof of that.

More at: https://getfootball.eu/opinion-leo-messi-winning-the-2022-world-cup-is-footballing-perfection/