Europe 1 with AFP 09:12, December 19, 2022
The day after the World Cup final which saw Argentina's third coronation, which beat France, Messi and Mbappé are on the front pages of the whole world.
If the international press hails an "anthology" match and a "maradonian" performance from Lionel Messi.
Some titles also highlight the Mbappé phenomenon.
In the aftermath of Argentina's coronation at the World Cup, the international press celebrates with one voice the "amazing" genius of Messi and his very "Maradonian" performance until the end of an "anthology" match.
Without forgetting to console the other star of this "epic" final: the "phenomenon" Mbappé.
Lionel Messi "has planted his flag at the top of Everest", salutes the British daily
The Times
.
His Albiceleste team won their third world crown on Sunday against France (3-3, 4 tab to 2).
Messi, "a hyphen with Maradona"
By scoring two goals, the guide of the Argentine team "now ranks among the greatest of all sports".
"Eternal glory to Messi", headlines the Argentinian sports daily
Olé
, reflecting the general feeling in Argentina.
A whole people had been waiting for almost twenty years for the coronation of their famous number 10, who joined Diego Maradona in the Pantheon of football gods.
Like several other headlines in the international press,
Gazzetta dello Sport
are convinced that Messi is 'a hyphen with Maradona'.
Because "Messi is a genius in an ordinary body, or rather in a body that has nothing athletic about it".
The prima pagina della Gazzetta di oggi:
IL PIEDE DI DIO
The notizie https://t.co/G5BflE37Nzpic.twitter.com/dPCA6l8oPX
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) December 19, 2022
But "in football, this physique can be enough if you have the head of an artist and the foot of God", adds the Italian newspaper, under a photo of a Messi who exults with joy.
"Like Diego Maradona in his time, the idol of the stadiums lived up to his reputation on Sunday, more than ever the pride of an entire people", greets the French daily Le Figaro, in praise of the "amazing Messi ".
At 35, Messi "led Argentina to the top with a 'maradonian' performance", abounds the Spanish sports newspaper
Marca.
#LaPortada Mes ́albi #Qatar2022pic.twitter.com/oWj4vhLRVd
— MARCA (@marca) December 18, 2022
"The 10 reaches glory" after "a lifetime of frustration and mutual misunderstanding between him and his country, with two farewells from the national team", underlines the Spanish title
El Pais
.
Even in Brazil, Albiceleste's great rival, the victory of the Argentine "brothers" and the coronation of Messi, "the best" who "greatly deserved to lift the cup", were sportingly discussed, according to the daily
O Globo
.
"The 2022 World Cup puts an end to the Messi x CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo) debate and the Argentinian is the best player of the last 50 years", headlines the Brazilian news site
Uol,
without however daring to compare the star to "King" Pelé .
"For eternity", here is the front page of L'Équipe for Sunday, December 18, 2022
https://t.co/hMgXMTEZAwpic.twitter.com/7WMT5WUHa2
– THE TEAM (@lequipe) December 17, 2022
For the German newspaper
Süddeutsche Zeitung
, "Lionel Messi creates an eternal work" by winning "the first title of world champion in a white and blue cathedral".
Messi finally world champion: "a major event in the history of the game which brings this absolute artist closer to immortality", congratulates the French sports daily
l'Equipe,
which just regrets that Messi did not "choose another day ".
Mbappé "for the history books"
On its front page, the French title
Liberation
salutes the "Legendaries" Messi and Mbappé equally, sharing its front page fairly between the two rivals in Doha but teammates at PSG.
Unsurprisingly
, the team
dwells on "the three goals in the final by an incredible Kylian Mbappé, who carried his guts" and to which the presentation of the Golden Boot for the event's top scorer (8 goals) "n didn't snatch a smile".
But the
Gazzetta dello sport
On the front page of @Libe this Monday:
⚽ Legendaries #ARGFRA#Qatar2022https://t.co/nj2k4mQp7hpic.twitter.com/Pse5KdAElq
— Liberation (@libe) December 18, 2022
"The Frenchman achieves a hat-trick and equalizes twice in a lost match" in advance, congratulates
El Pais
.
However, "Kylian Mbappé's quest to be considered the best has just been delayed", seems to regret the
New York Times
.
"What a final!" Enthuses the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, which speaks of a "crazy evening" for the two teams who went through "heaven and hell".
"Unforgettable final", "delirium", "ecstasy", "the best final of all time", exclaims the Argentine press, as well as the French press which is enthusiastic about this "final in apotheosis", of an "unreal suspense match" or "
"One of these heroic matches that crosses time", underlines
the Team,
but also "one of these stabs that cross the heart".
