British newspapers surrender Lionel Messi for world champion Argentina: ‘Crown of glory’ and ‘in the hand of God’

English newspapers put aside the rivalry their team maintains with Argentina and surrendered to Lionel Messi and Argentina world champion in Qatar 2022. “In the hand of God”, they celebrated the Rosary, trophy in hand and with obvious historical references. Several were encouraged to end the controversy and enthroned Rosario: “The Greatest Player”.

the sun was the most ingeniouswith a cover that went viral on social media. “In God’s Hand”headlined the tabloid, playing with that memory of Diego Maradona and his first goal in the quarter-finals of Mexico 1986 (the one with the false header, the one with the hand, the one that preceded the Goal of the Century).

“Finally Messi wins the Holy Grail,” he added pompously the sun. They took out their national pride by calling the definition of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar “the greatest final of a World Cup… since 1966“.

At home that year, England won their only trophy, beating Germany 4-2 in extra time (they had finished 2-2 in regular time, with a heartbreaking goal from German Wolfgang Weber). It was also the final of the Phantom Goalfor the 3-2 that the Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst validated for Geoffrey Hurst despite the ball never entering the German goal.

For his part, The independent put aside the controversy and was succinct to crown Messi at the top of football history. “Messi’s Moment”, was the title, with the Argentine striker kissing the Cup, after receiving the award for best player of the tournament. The newspaper continued: “The greatest player. The greatest final. The highest price”.

Keeperwhich has some of the best writing in English sports journalism, opened its edition on Monday: “Champions! The crowning glory of Messi”. Which, for Argentinian ears, can become a verse of the national anthem: “Crown of glory”.

The Daily Telegraph has chosen the PSG footballer, in his albiceleste version, to illustrate its cover: “Messi consolidates his role as bigger player in the best World Cup final in all history”.

Times he leaned toward information and just two adjectives. “An epic World Cup ends with a win for a wonderful Messi“, he directed.

Also a magazine for specialists, the Financial Timestook Argentina’s win as the main headline on its print cover. “Messi’s crown. Argentina raises the World Cup”, are the words that the salmon-toned newspaper has chosen to accompany the eternal photo: the man from Rosario who raises the prize, the tunic that the Emir of Qatar put on him and his cheerful companions around him.

Messi and Mbappé, delight of the tabloids

Those who, of course, would not have missed Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were the tabloids. Between matters of entertainment, sex and heart, the Daily mail he split his main image in two: on the left, Emmanuel Macron comforting Kylian Mbappé; on the right, Messi smiles with Antonela Roccuzzo and two of her sons, Mateo and Ciro.

“The agony… and the ecstasy”, headlines this medium, putting into words the shock of sensations left by the electrifying definition of the World Cup. Agony for “Macron’s losing hug” for Mbappé. the ecstasy of “the small teacher (yes)” who “finally raises the World Cup”.

Meanwhile, the Daily star he dedicates only one box set of his overcrowded cover to him. But his sentence accompanies the rest of the English papers: “Put on top of the world”.

The rivalry between England and Argentina includes five World Cup clashes. In Chile 1962, the European team won 3-1. In 1966 the locals won 1-0, in a game remembered for the expulsion of Antonio Rattin.

Twenty years later the blue-and-white triumph took place 2-1, with Diego Maradona’s brace and with the pain for the War of the Malvinas on the surface of the skin. At France 1998 Daniel Passarella’s team won on penalties, after drawing 2-2 in regular time. And in Korea/Japan 2002, England took their revenge by beating Marcelo Bielsa’s men 1-0, in the second round of a World Cup to forget.

Maybe the English got a little revenge with Lionel Scaloni’s team winning on penalties against Didier Deschamps, who had beaten them 2-1 in the quarter-finals of this World Cup.

DS