Highlights

The GOAT: Messi delivers World Cup to Argentina with defining performance in final

It was Lionel Messi's World Cup. With almost 80 minutes gone in Sunday's final and Argentina leading 2-0, the 35-year-old looked destined to lift the trophy while capturing both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball — a clean sweep of everything on the GOAT's World Cup swan song.

Then, in 97 seconds of Kylian Mbappé-inspired madness over the 80th and 81st minutes, France pulled level with Messi's PSG teammate scoring from the spot before unleashing a 15-yard side-volley for the equalizer. 

Messi cumple su sueño y Argentina es campeón del mundo

Lionel Messi consiguió su sueño: ser campeón del mundo.

El "10" lideró a Argentina ante Francia en la final de Catar 2022, acaso la mejor final en la historia de los mundiales.

Y no es exageración. 

El partido tuvo polémica, una remontada increíble, tiempos extras lleno de suspenso y una definición desde los 12 pasos que dejó a más de 3.500 millones de personas – si creemos las proyecciones de la FIFA – con el corazón en la boca.

Croatia tames Atlas Lions of Morocco with 2 sublime goals in third-place playoff

The FIFA World Cup third-place playoff always takes place under the shadow cast by the next day's monumentous final, but they have a tendency to entertain as two losing semifinalists unshackle themselves from pressure and anxiety to secure bronze for proud footballing nations.

Saturday's third-place playoff didn't disappoint as Croatia and Morocco, after both failing to score in the semis, exchanged goals in the opening 10 minutes before Mislav Oršić put the Checkered Ones ahead before halftime with a stunner that proved game-winner.

The 10 players who'll determine Sunday's World Cup final

With over one billion people tuning in around the globe, Sunday's World Cup final represents the grandest stage in all of sports. For the players, it's a chance to touch immortality by joining the pantheon of winners.

Many on France's team already tasted glory in 2018, but now they're focused on becoming the first nation to successfully defend its crown since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Fan footage shows superb Messi assist vs. Croatia in a whole new dimension

If you're still rewinding and replaying Lionel Messi's magnificent assist vs. Croatia, this fan footage of it will knock your socks off. 

The magic behind the clip is that it shows the play from its genesis and allows you to see how Messi masterminded the sequence with some small talk with Julián Álvarez near the midfield line. 

It took five Morocco players to try and stop Kylian Mbappé… France still managed to score

No guys, that won’t count as an assist for Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman helped set up an amazing game-sealing goal during France’s 2-0 World Cup semifinal win vs. Morocco on Wednesday.

Trailing 1-0 late in the game, Morocco looked to be getting closer and closer to finding an equalizer until Mbappé produced a moment of magic in the 79th minute.

Receiving the ball at the top of the Moroccan box, Mbappé quickly glided past Soyfan Amrabat and then slithered away from Achraf Dari. In the blink of eye there were five Morocco players converging on the 23-year-old.

Hugo Lloris denies Morocco (and us) of goal of the tournament

Trailing 1-0 to France shortly before halftime in Wednesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal, Morocco center back Jawad El Yamiq almost found an equalizer with an outrageous bicycle kick from 12 yards out.

Initially it looked like the overhead attempt had thumped directly off the base of the post, but it was counted as a shot on target and save for Hugo Lloris after replays showed the French goalkeeper getting his fingertips to it to help aid it onto the woodwork.

Without Lloris' touch, maybe the shot hits the inside of the post and goes in. 

Lionel Messi gets the ball near midfield, BURNS Joško Gvardiol and provides a perfect assist

Lionel Messi showed the world once again that he’s in arguably the best form of his career. Aging like a fine wine, Messi got a goal and an assist vs. Croatia in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup semifinal victory on Tuesday.

His goal came from the penalty spot in the 34th minute, but the assist. Oh, that glorious assist. That one came in the 69th minute.

Messi assist vs Croatia

Leading 2-0, Messi and Julián Álvarez put the nail in the coffin with about 20 minutes to go. The 35-year-old maestro looked like he was a young 20-something again with a dazzling run.

A striker finally comes through for Lionel Messi and Argentina when needed most

Lionel Messi's recent World Cup past has been synonymous with infamous performances from Argentina's strikers. 

In the 2014 final, Gonzalo Higuaín was Argentina's worst player, slicing a glorious opportunity wide and failing to check his run on an offside goal. In 2018, Sergio Agüero fought with manager Jorge Sampaoli and got dropped. 

Syracuse wins first NCAA Men's College Cup in school history on penalties

Syracuse Orange men's soccer captured their first NCAA Tournament championship Monday night by defeating eight-time champions the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2022 Men's College Cup Final at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC.

The two teams couldn't be separated in regular time with the game level at 2-2.

Sophomore striker Nathan Opoku opened the scoring for Syracuse in the 24th minute with a left-footed curler into the far corner. 

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