Silly Bits Of Football Trivia

🗣️ "Was it written? Can it be? Imagine how it is in Buenos Aires. Imagine how it is in Cordoba. Imagine how it is in Messi's hometown, Rosario."

🗣️ "Lionel Messi has shaken hands with Paradise."

🗣️ "He has rendered himself the greatest of all time."

🗣️ "Messi's meant-to-be moment. His fulfilment. His completion. It's done."

Peter Drury made Messi and Argentina's World Cup triumph even sweeter with his magic from the commentary box. ❤️

Last night, Messi broke these records: 👇
▪️Most appearances (26) in World Cup history, overtaking Lothar Matthaus (25). 👕
▪️First player in history to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice. 🏆

Lionel Messi and Argentina are champions of the world. 🇦🇷

🗣️ "It is a Moroccan marvel! The Atlas Lions now just one more prowling step from the World Cup final itself! The Arab world unites. The African continent believes.

It's standard bearer continues to conjure with the barely believable. For the first time in the history of the World Cup there will be an African nation in the semifinals. Portugal are out and Cristiano Ronaldo is out." - Peter Drury. 😍

Morocco have been punching above their weight throughout the tournament, having conceded a solitary goal so far. 👏

Clean sheets against Belgium, Croatia, Spain and Portugal talks about the grit, determination and discipline of the Moroccan squad. 🚫

Tonight they face defending world champions France and hoping for one more magical performance, to set up a meeting with Argentina on Sunday. 💪

Even if they come up short tonight, Morocco's story will be remembered for years to come. 🙏

🗣️ "What is there left for him to show? What is there left for him to do? The answer to the question - win the World Cup!" - Peter Drury. 😍

Last night, Lionel Messi produced a masterclass to guide Argentina to the final and remain on course for a fairytale farewell from the World Cup. 🇦🇷

Magic man! 🌟

📆 On 1st March, 2006, in a friendly between Croatia and Argentina in Basel, 20-year old Luka Modric made his international debut for Croatia. 🇭🇷

In the same match, Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Argentina. 🇦🇷

📆 13th July, 2014: Lionel Messi captains Argentina against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, but loses the game. However, he wins the Golden Ball after being adjudged the best player at that World Cup. 🏅

📆 15th July, 2018: Luka Modric skippers Croatia in their first ever World Cup final appearance, but is comprehensively beaten by France. Modric is awarded the Golden Ball for the 2018 World Cup. 🏅

Two players, one of them regarded as arguably the greatest player to ever grace the game, and the other a genius in midfield, the finest his country has ever produced. 😍

Two players with extraordinary La Liga and Champions League legacy, hoping to win the biggest prize in world football, in what could possibly be their last World Cup appearance. 🤩

Former Ballon D'Or winners, two stalwarts of the game. 👏

LM10 vs LM10. Who wins tonight? 🤔

Does he even need to prove anything anymore to anyone? 🤔

The greatest goalscorer in international football, most major tournament goals by a European. 🌟

But the lashings by the media and some sections of football followers is debatable. 😔

Few weeks ago Ronaldo went out and commented on Erik ten Hag, the infrastructure at Manchester United and the ambitions of the club during a startling interview with Piers Morgan, subsequently resulting in his contract being terminated by United. 👀

Portugal manager Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo from the starting line-up for the knockouts, and given Portugal's brilliant performance against Switzerland, many felt the decision was justified. 🇵🇹

However, there will be trolls against Ronaldo, his attitude and his ability waning as he nears the end of his international career. 💔

But does he need to prove anything anymore to anyone? 🧐

Easily one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, a player who's been on the top of his game for the best part of 16 years. 🙏

To one of the true greats, you will forever be remembered as a fighter, a supremely gifted athlete whose hardwork has been second to none. 🐐

If last night was the final time we saw Ronaldo on the World Cup stage, so be it. We have had the pleasure of following one of the finest careers in sports history. ❤️

What a difference two World Cup tournaments make. 🤯

Harry Kane - Golden Boot winner in 2018, missed the vital penalty to draw England level against France tonight. 🤯

Tchouaméni and Giroud have guided Les Bleus to a semifinal meeting with Morocco. 🇫🇷

Heartbreak for England. 💔

Before the World Cup even began, Samuel Eto'o predicted a Cameroon vs Morocco final. Extremely ambitious, to say the least. 😂

While Cameroon did have their moment against Brazil, they did crash out in the group stages. 🙏

But Morocco have carried on, having conceded just a solitary goal this World Cup - that too from an own goal. 🇲🇦

Hakimi, Ziyech, Saiss, Amrabat, Bounou. Feel free to add more to this list. A list of names that will be worshipped and adored eternally in Morocco and Africa. 🌟

Just the 4️⃣th African nation to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010 and now Morocco carry the hopes of an entire continent. 🌍

Feel it. Live it. Dream it. Morocco face Portugal tonight in Doha for a place in the semifinals, vying to become the first African nation to reach the last 4️⃣ at a World Cup. 🤩

We have heard stories of how Diego Maradona single-handedly carried Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986. 🏆

If our generation needed an example to go by, Lionel Messi is doing somewhat similar in 2022. 🇦🇷

Messi survived last night, Argentina survived just by the skin of their teeth. 🤯

Wout Weghorst first headed in to reduce the deficit and scored again in the final minute of stoppage time to drag the game into penalties. 🇳🇱

However, like in the 2014 semifinal, Netherlands came up short as Emiliano Martinez saved penalties from Van Dijk and Berghuis to keep Messi's dream alive. 🧤

Next up? Modric's Croatia. 🇭🇷