After World Cup visit to Qatar: Elon Musk is beside himself

The football stars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé could be admired on the pitch, but a multi-billionaire also attracted attention in the stands.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk made a detour to Qatar to watch the World Cup final between Argentina and France (4-2 on penalties) live on Sunday.

"Duel in the desert.

Couldn't have asked for a better game.

Unbelievable game by Argentina and France!!!!", wrote the 51-year-old on the short message service Twitter, which he recently took over for around 44 billion US dollars.

During the gripping encounter, Musk posted some videos and enthusiastic comments on his platform ("Super exciting World Cup", "Can France come back?").

According to Musk, the third goal by France's Mbappé to equalize 3: 3 shortly before the end of extra time triggered "24,400 tweets per second" on Twitter, the allegedly highest frequency ever at a World Cup.

During his visit to the Lusail Stadium, Musk, who raised doubts about his promise of diversity of opinion with crude comments and much-criticized business conduct, shook hands with the equally controversial Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

That could be seen in photos.

Musk also shook hands with other people during his visit to the VIP stand, which the surrounding visitors filmed with their cell phones.

French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile encouraged the players of the dethroned world champion with an emotional speech in the cabin.

"After this game you will certainly feel regrets, but you played great football," Macron told the dejected French after losing the World Cup final to Argentina.

The team showed "heart, hunger, desire and talent".

He was also very sad, Macron then emphasized in an interview with journalists: "Especially because the players were so close to the goal.

And at the same time I told them that they made us incredibly proud.”

Macron also paid tribute to Mbappé's performance, who scored three goals in the final and also scored on penalties.

"That's what makes very great players," said the 44-year-old, who also watched the final against Messi's Argentines in the stadium: "He's not even 24 and I'll be honest I'm not in the best position to reason with people tonight because I was at least as sad as he was."

Macron also assured that he would receive the team at the Elysee Palace without giving a specific date.

The course of the game - France scored late equalizers by Mbappé in regular time and in extra time (80', penalty kick, 81', 118', penalty kick) - showed that "it's always possible."

Former US President Barack Obama also raved about the final and especially world champion Messi - and gave his answer in a long-term debate in football.

"Congratulations to Argentina and to the GOAT, Lionel Messi, for an incredible World Cup win," the 61-year-old tweeted on Sunday night.

GOAT stands for "Greatest of All Time".

Messi has achieved his dreams by winning his first World Cup title and the trophy he lacked compared to Argentinian legend Diego Maradona.

The three-time Brazilian world champion Pelé is also always mentioned in the discussion about who is the greatest footballer in history.