Argentina was the name on top of all pundits’ lists whenever asked who are the favorites to win this World Cup leading up to the tournament in Qatar. Their predictions were not just wishful. Besides the added incentive of watching one of the greatest players in Lionel Messi signing off his international career with the grandest of honours, it had proper substance given Argentina were entering the World Cup with the longest unbeaten streak for any team heading into the tournament: 36 games including that Copa America final against Brazil at the Maracanã. That unbeaten streak coupled with the fact that Argentina is 3rd on the world rankings and their opening fixture opponents Saudi Arabia are ranked 51st would most definitely ensure a straight forward victory for the Argentines right? Well fate had something different in store. Saudi Arabia stunned the entire footballing fraternity by beating their accomplished opponents by a scoreline of 2-1 despite falling behind in the opening 10 minutes to a penalty taken calmly by the ever-reliable left foot of Messi. Read more: Qatar World Cup: Saudi Arabia's stunning victory end Argentina's 36-match winning streak This loss raises huge question marks over Argentina’s credentials as potential winners. But at the end of day any Argentina loss is a huge event stirring all kinds of questions and doubts. The fact remains that on paper they are a well balanced team with an impeccable record backing the squad and its manager leading into the World Cup. The manager though needs to make a few bold decisions ahead of the next game, like starting Lisandro Martinez who has been in sensational form for Manchester United this season, ahead of Romero or Otamendi at the heart of their defense. Also despite the abundance of attacking talent at their disposal, Argentina’s gameplay still seems heavily dependent on Lionel Messi and the brilliant moments he can churn out. Defensively Argentina is a robust team but their midfield and attack need to up their game and be more cohesive to sustain meaningful pressure throughout the 90 minutes. Read more: ‘Now's the time to be more united than ever’: Messi after Argentina's shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia Argentina is a team which enjoys an incredible fan following throughout the world thanks to their glorious history and the pull of Lionel Messi. This army of unconditionally loving fans traveled to the stadium in Qatar, and tuned into their televisions around the world in anticipation of a thumping win to establish their authority on this World Cup but in return they got more questions than answers at the end of the game. Is this team really ready to finish the wait of 36 years? Is Lionel Messi going to sign off with the ultimate glory? Is Argentina’s notorious inconsistency about to creep in again at the biggest stage of world football? These are all questions that will continue to bother the Argentine supporters till they take the field in their next battle against Mexico on the 27th of November.

As the biggest event in international football, the FIFA World Cup captivates millions of fans around the globe every four years. And at the heart of it all is one highly coveted prize: the golden trophy. It was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and made by the Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni company. It was first presented to Germany after they won the 1974 World Cup. But have you ever wondered just how much gold is actually in that shiny trophy of the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament? Value of FIFA World Cup Trophy Well, it may surprise you to learn that the FIFA World Cup trophy is not solid gold and it is hollow inside. In fact, it stands at a mere 36.5 centimeters tall and is made of 18 karats (75%) gold, weighing a total of 6.175 kilograms. It has bands of malachite on its base, which is 13 centimeters in diameter. While this may not seem like a lot, the current market value for this amount of gold is a whopping $161,000 (around 1 crore and 70 lacs taka). Read Technologies set to amaze at Qatar Football World Cup 2022 History of FIFA Football World Cup Trophy What makes this trophy even more valuable is its history and significance. First introduced in 1974, it has been awarded to World Cup winning teams for over 40 years now. Only six countries have managed to claim it multiple times: Brazil (5 times), Germany (3 times), Italy (2 times), Argentina (2 times), Uruguay (2 times) and Spain (1 time). In the past, the winning team would keep possession of the trophy until the final draw of the next tournament. However, that is no longer the case. Now, each winner of the World Cup receives a gold plated bronze replica than solid gold. The original trophy remains in FIFA’s possession and is brought out for display at each subsequent World Cup tournament. So, while it may not be solid gold, there's no doubt that the FIFA's Football World Cup Trophy holds immense value both monetarily and sentimentally. Read 8 Stadiums of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022