I am not even a little ashamed to admit that I was wrong about the third-place decider.

From Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe dazzling, Morocco overachieving to Cristiano Ronaldo discovering his place in the sidelines, there have been a number of hits and misses in the month-long festival of football.

Maybe it is Angel di Maria's fate, like that of so many other talented Argentina players, that he was born in Lionel Messi's time; that he had to play his whole international career under the shadow of Messi.

The 2022 World Cup may have been the last hurrah for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the tournament also witnessed the arrival of a new crop of talented young players. Here, we look at some of the rising stars who shone during the finals in Qatar.

As fireworks exploded and some 80,000 people roared, Lionel Messi smiled. His Argentina soccer shirt covered by the bisht the Emir of Qatar had just draped him in – the cape reserved for top officials and sheikhs. He smiled, he paused, then he hoisted high the World Cup, a lifetime’s dream realised.

Argentina star Lionel Messi on Sunday vowed to continue playing for his country despite realising his lifetime ambition of winning the World Cup.

France captain Hugo Lloris admitted Sunday's World Cup final defeat to Lionel Messi's Argentina was "cruel" and likened the pulsating showpiece to a "boxing match".

France coach Didier Deschamps said the way his team lost Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina was "cruel" after they came from behind twice over the course of the game only to succumb in a penalty shoot-out.

Finally, Leo Messi, and how you deserved it. From all the way back in 2006, when you made your World Cup debut, until now.

Argentina and Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been named the best youngster at the 2022 World Cup.

Geoff Hurst said he had enjoyed a "good run" after France's Kylian Mbappe became just the second player after the England great to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

Lionel Messi on Sunday won the Golden Ball for the best player at this year's World Cup after leading Argentina to victory in the final against France.

Fans flocked to Dhaka University's TSC area to watch the FIFA World Cup finals between Argentina and France. Here are some photos of their celebration after Argentina's win against France at the penalties.

Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes.

Defending champions France and Argentina drew 3-3 after extra time to send the World Cup final into a penalty shootout on Sunday.

Lionel Messi scored his second goal in the second half of extra-time to give Argentina the lead against France in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium In Qatar.

France's Kylian Mbappe scored twice in two minutes late in the game, including an 80th-minute penalty, to salvage a 2-2 draw with Argentina after 90 minutes and force extra time in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe stunned Argentines as he scored a brace inside two minutes to bring France back into the final of the World Cup against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. 

Commentary transcends into a place where it sprinkles the power of words over the raw emotional journey of live sports.

Argentina led France 2-0 at halftime in the World Cup final on Sunday after Lionel Messi netted his sixth goal of the tournament and Angel Di Maria doubled the advantage from a thrilling counter-attack.