Gunmen left a threatening message Thursday for Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi and opened fire at a supermarket owned by his in-laws in Argentina’s third-largest city, police said. Nobody was injured in the early morning attack, and it was unclear why assailants would target Messi or the Unico supermarket in Rosario, owned by the family of his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo. The city’s mayor, Pablo Javkin, lashed out at federal authorities over what he called their failure to curb a surge in drug-related violence in Rosario, located about 190 miles ( 300 kilometers) northwest of the capital of Buenos Aires. Police said two men on a motorcycle fired at least a dozen shots into an Unico branch in the early hours, and left a message on a piece of carboard that read, “Messi, we’re waiting for you. Javkin is also a drug trafficker, so he won’t take care of you.” Read: Lionel Messi Won The Best FIFA Men's Player Prize For 2022, Records Messi, captain of the national team that won last year’s World Cup for Argentina for the first time in 36 years, has not commented. Messi currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain and spends much of his time overseas, though he often visits Rosario where he has a home in the suburb of Funes. Javkin, a center-left politician in opposition to the ruling Peronist coalition, appeared to throw suspicion of complicity for the attack on both criminal gangs and federal security officials. “I doubt everyone, even those who are supposed to protect us,” Javkin said in an interview with a local radio station. He said the supermarket was in a section of Rosario that has seen frequent crimes, that he has raised the issue in recent meetings with federal and provincial official law enforcement officials, and that no action has been taken. “Where are the ones who need to take care of us?” Javkin said. “It’s clear that those who have the weapons and have the possibility of investigating the criminals aren’t doing it, and it’s very easy for any gang to carry out something like this.”  

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (January 30, 2023) said his Argentine counterpart Santiago Andrés Cafiero will be in Dhaka on a two-day official visit in February – as the two sides want to strengthen ties in the coming days. “I have invited him. He (Argentine foreign minister) will come. I told him to bring Lionel Messi with him,” Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that it will be a plus for Bangladesh if Argentina opens a mission in Bangladesh. Momen said Argentina “in principle agreed” to open its mission or consulate in Dhaka and the government of Bangladesh also has a plan to open a mission in Argentina. Bangladesh has already opened a mission in Brazil. “We hope we will open a Bangladesh mission in Argentina in future,” he said, adding that Bangladesh considers three things – size of Bangladeshi community there, importance of the host country, and flow of remittance into Bangladesh – before opening any mission abroad. Also read: Ambassador Lee visits South Korea-supported innovative ICT-integrated pilot classroom in Dhaka Momen said Argentina is a good friend of Bangladesh and always remains supportive. “We have a very good relationship with Argentina.” “I believe, hearts of the people of Bangladesh and Argentina are united by football, despite our geographical distance,” Momen said in a recent letter to the Argentine foreign minister. He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to deepen the existing relations and friendship between the two countries. “I look forward to working closely to consolidate our mutual priorities and opening of missions in each other’s capital in the coming days,” he said. Read More World champions Argentina likely to visit Dhaka in next June Homes and streets across Argentina and Bangladesh became places of celebration after an epic World Cup final in which the former’s national team beat France. It was the country’s third World Cup title.

Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in penalty kicks in the World Cup final was the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States. The early numbers from Nielsen, Fox and Telemundo show Sunday’s match had an English- and Spanish-language combined audience of 25,783,000. That trails the 26.7 million that tuned in to the 2015 Women’s World Cup final, when the U.S. beat Japan 5-2 in a match that aired in prime time for most of the United States because the tournament was held in Canada. Fox’s numbers from Sunday should increase when the “match-only” rating is released later Tuesday. The 16,783,000 average released by Fox and Nielsen includes some pre- and post-match coverage. The high viewership comes as the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to host the 2026 World Cup. Read more: Millions jam Buenos Aires streets to celebrate World Cup win Argentina’s first World Cup title since 1986 was Fox’s most-watched match of the tournament, surpassing the 15,491,000 that watched the Americans 0-0 draw with England during group-stage play on Nov. 25. Sunday’s combined audience was a 31% increase over the 2018 final, which averaged 17.83 million on Fox and Telemundo. Fox’s audience increased 25.5% from four years ago, when France defeated Croatia in the final. Telemundo’s total audience of 9 million is a 65% jump from 2018. Nearly one-third — 2.96 million — streamed Sunday’s match on Peacock and Telemundo’s digital services, which made it the most-streamed World Cup match in U.S. history, regardless of language. By comparison, the 6.04 million who watched on Telemundo was triple the 1.9 million that watched the network’s broadcast of Super Bowl 57 earlier this year. Read more: Argentines erupt in joy after epic World Cup final While the Super Bowl continues to lead championship viewing — this year’s game had a combined audience of 112.3 million — the World Cup final did outdraw other sports. Game 5 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros averaged 12.77 million on Fox, and was the most-viewed game of the six-game series. The series-clinching games of the NBA Finals and NHL’s Stanley Cup finals averaged 13.99 million and 5.8 million, respectively, on ABC.

Have you ever imagined a goal feast, intense battles, thrilling 120 minutes, repeated twists and turns, and nerve-racking tiebreakers at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2022 final? Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina won the title with incredible success. Lionel Messi got the adorable golden trophy.  This is called destiny, Lionel Messi will lift the World Cup, but not in the easiest way. Countless dramas with a final test of nerve, perhaps the most incredible drama in the history of the World Cup final has ended with Messi lifting the trophy. Finally, Argentina’s 36-year wait for the world cup has ended. Who knows, maybe this tournament will end the debate about the great footballer of all time. Many people did not want to accept Messi as the best because he did not win the elusive World Cup trophy, and finally, he won that one too. Journey of Champion Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 After many regrets, disappointments, and pains, Lionel Messi and his Argentina finally got hold of the World Cup. Millions of football fans around the world are sure to be very proud and happy. However, the journey was not very smooth, and it was a hell of a ride for Argentina. The 36 trophyless years are finished now. Let’s recap Argentina’s World Cup-winning journey. Dramatic Final After being ahead with two goals until 80 minutes, Argentina could not win in the first 90 minutes. An extra 30 minutes was not enough to bring out the result. Despite Lionel Messi’s double goal, Argentina failed to keep the lead. Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick brought France back into the game. In the end, a tiebreaker decided the outcome. After defeating the French, Messi finally kissed the trophy for new world champion Argentina. Albiceleste has become the world champion for the third time. Read More: FIFA mostly wins big but loses some trust at Qatar World Cup Mbappe equalized with two goals in 97 seconds after Argentina was ahead for 80 minutes in Sunday’s final at Lusail Stadium. Again Mbappe drew level 3-3 with a penalty after Messi’s second goal in extra time as Argentina went ahead again. Then Diego Maradona’s successors beat France by 4-2 goals in the tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, both teams scored their first shot. After that, goalkeeper Martinez became a wall, blocking Kingsley Coman’s shot. Ahelia Tchouameni hit their third shot wide. Finally, Argentina erupted in joy when Gonzalo Montiel hit the target in Argentina’s fourth shot. And blue-white waves rise in Lusail stadium. The statistics also show how exciting the match was. At the same time, the image of the Argentine power and the turning of the French. Argentina was a little ahead in possession of the ball and a lot in attack. They took 20 shots on goal and 10 on target. France was half in these two places; Five targets out of 10 shots. Further, fouls have also happened; Argentina fouled 26, and France 19. Read More: Benzema posts tweet indicating international retirement

Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus congratulated Argentina on their World Cup triumph Sunday. "Vamos Argentina! Congratulations to Argentina – Lionel Messi and the whole team for winning the World Cup 2022!" Yunus said in a media statement Monday. "An exhilarating final match with Lionel Messi, one of the greatest of all time, getting the honour he deserves. Kudos to France and another legend in the making Kylian Mbappé !" he added. "We always believe in the power of sports to lift communities up and inspire the next generation to realise their true potential," Yunus said. Argentina's "superfans" in Bangladesh are over the moon now as Messi scored two goals and converted in the shootout as the South American side beat France 4-2 on penalties to claim a third World Cup title despite Mbappé scoring the first hattrick in a final in 56 years.

Lionel Messi's once-in-a-generation career is complete. The Argentina superstar is finally a World Cup champion. Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hattrick in a final in 56 years. Now there's no debate. Messi is definitively in the pantheon of football's greatest-ever players, alongside Pelé – a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil – and Diego Maradona, the late Argentina great with whom Messi was so often compared. Messi achieved what Maradona did in 1986 and dominated a World Cup for Argentina. The torch will one day pass to Mbappé, whose late goals lit up one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament's 92-year history and made him the first scorer of a hattrick in a final since 1966, but not just yet. "Let's go, Argentina!" Messi roared into a microphone on the field in the post-match celebrations. Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and played a part in Angel Di Maria's goal that made it 2-0 after 36 minutes.

Argentina have a 2-0 lead against France in the World Cup final after goals by Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. Messi scored on a 23rd-minute penalty kick after a foul on Di Maria. Thirteen minutes later Di Maria finished off a flowing team move involving a deft flick from Messi. It was Messi's 12th World Cup goal. Messi is making a record 26th appearance at the World Cup, breaking a tie with Germany great Lothar Matthäus. Messi's matches have been spread over five World Cups, starting in 2006. Like France, Argentina are seeking a third World Cup title — after 1978 and 1986 — to move into outright fourth place in the all-time list. It would end a 36-year wait for football's biggest prize, since Maradona's string of virtuoso performances in Mexico in 1986. That made Maradona forever a hero in Argentina and an icon around the football world. Messi now appears to be at that level. Messi has evoked comparisons with Maradona in the way he has pushed Argentina to the final, scoring six goals, thrilling his team's legion of fans, who have poured into Qatar throughout the World Cup in numbers only really matched by those from Morocco. Read more: World Cup final: Di Maria makes it 2-0 for Argentina against France    

As fans are excited about who will win the FIFA World Cup 2022, there is just as much excitement over who is going to bag the golden boot award. The Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer of the tournament. The award was first presented in 1982 and has been awarded at every World Cup since then. This year the excitement of the golden boot will remain until the last day of the World Cup as four players, Messi (5 goals), Mbappe (5 goals), Alvarez (4 goals) and Giroud (4 goals), are running in this race. It is not possible to say who will win the award as they all have equal opportunities in the final. However, Messi and Mbappe have more chances to win the golden boot. Let’s see what the possibilities are for them. Performance of Messi in The FIFA World Cup 2022 So Far After 2014, Messi is once again a big contender for the golden boot. Lionel Messi played a leading role in reaching his team to the final by scoring 5 goals and three assists. Lionel Messi is in great form in this World Cup, and he has one final game. So, Messi has a great chance to win if he can score more goals in the next match. However, in this World Cup, Messi has seen his highest goal in one tournament and also became the highest goal scorer in Argentina’s World Cup history. Messi scored against Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia, Netherlands, and Croatia. Read More: Argentina vs France Final Match Preview: FIFA World Cup 2022 Other records Messi has so far in this World Cup are 27 shots, 1.75 expected goals, 14 shots on target, created 18 chances, 20 fouls drawn, 14 open play chances created, and 36 take on. Messi is the leading man of the match winner among footballers. This great footballer has won the 'man of the match' title four times so far in the Qatar World Cup.  Performance of Mbappe in The Football World Cup 2022 So Far Last time in the 2018 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé Lottin got 4 goals, this time, he scored 5 goals in just three matches. However, he could not score in three matches. So, Messi has overtaken him in the race for the golden boot. But what Mbappe did in the final game of the last World Cup is not easy to forget. If he gets a goal in the final this time, maybe the golden boot will go to his feet. In other records, Mbappe has 24 shots, 10 shots on target, and suffered 7 fouls. Mbappes’ fight in the final will be a fight to win the title as well as snatch the Golden Boot from Messi. Read More: Will Messi's last performance in World Cup help Argentina win the trophy in Qatar? Who will Win the Gold Boot Award in FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi or Mbappe? Since both have scored 5 goals, and if they don’t score any goals in the final, other golden boot rules will be applied. That said, if the number of goals scored by more footballers is equal, then it is seen who has more assists. That is, who assisted in how many goals? If it is equal, it is seen who was on the field for less time. So, if both Messi and Mbappes’ scores remain the same, FIFA will look at the assist number. In that case, Messi will win the golden boot as he has three assists. On the other hand, Mbappe has 2 assists. However, if Mbappe assists one goal in the next match and Messi’s assist remains the same, Mbappe will win the golden boot as he has played less time than Messi. Mbappe played 477 minutes on the field, while Messi played 570 minutes. Read More: FIFA World Cup Final 2022 Argentina vs France LIVE Streaming: Where and How to watch online and TV Channel, Predicted XI Final Words Both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé Lottin have enthralled sports enthusiasts with their magical performances in this year's Football world cup. Not to mention, both players are deserving candidates for the Gold Boot award. However, we have to wait one more day to know who wins the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 Golden Boot. Apparently, both Messi and Mbappe will give their best for sure to win the game as well as enrich their personal record.

The blue-and-white wall of Argentina fans launched into another rendition of their World Cup anthem as fulltime approached at Lusail Stadium. “Maradona,” they sang, “is cheering Lionel on” from heaven. The parallels between the two all-time greats of Argentine soccer, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, are becoming ever more striking in Qatar. Just like the 1986 World Cup seemed to be a highlight reel for Maradona, Messi has made his mark on this tournament with a string of spectacular goals and assists, carrying Argentina’s class of 2022 into the final. There have always been echoes of Maradona in Messi — his size, his dribbling skills, his quick feet, his wand of a left foot. Add in the leadership and fighting qualities he has shown throughout the tournament and it really does feel like Messi is imbued with the spirit of Maradona as he closes in on soccer’s ultimate prize. “Messi is playing the Maradona role in the World Cup,” Jorge Valdano, who was in Argentina’s victorious World Cup squad in 1986, said in an interview to TyC Sports channel. That was clear to see in Messi’s latest stirring performance as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to advance to the World Cup final for the sixth time. Read more: ‘To finish this way is brilliant’: Messi’s last dance, last chance for World Cup glory And nothing encapsulated his magnificence more than his assist for the third goal, scored by Julian Alvarez. Receiving the ball on the touchline just inside Croatia’s half, Messi lifted the ball over the challenge of Josko Gvardiol and sprinted down the right flank. Gvardiol chased him, constantly grabbing the jersey of the Argentina captain, and was then bewitched as Messi dropped his shoulder and swiveled the other way to turn and burst into the area. Then came the simple cross with his right foot that Alvarez swept home. It was another moment of magic in a tournament that has been full of them by Messi. “Personally,” Messi said, “I can say that I feel very happy in this whole World Cup. I am enjoying it a lot and luckily enough I can help my whole squad to make things happen.” After the match, an Argentine reporter conducting a post-match interview with Messi broke off from asking questions and told him that, whatever happened in the final, he had succeeded in making a mark on every Argentine’s life and was bringing joy to the country. And for Messi, it is now about more than just winning soccer matches. “It is no longer only the result but the road we have traveled,” he said. “Before in Argentina, it was valued to win or lose, but I think people now value other things.” That may be so, but winning the World Cup would cement his legacy, allowing him to join Pele and Maradona in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest players. He might be there already, but being a World Cup winner would end the debate. Messi reiterated that this would most probably be his last dance at a World Cup — he will turn 39 during the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. And he’s been doing plenty of dancing, on the field after matches and in the locker room, as Argentina has rebounded with five wins following a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its World Cup opener. “It was an acid test for this whole squad but this squad proved how strong we are,” Messi said. “We won the next matches. It was very difficult what we did because every match was a final and this was a mental load because we knew things would be more complicated for us. “We managed to win five finals and I hope it will be this way for the last game. Internally, we were confident that we would make it because we know what we are capable of as a squad.” Read more: Special record that Messi can break if he plays in FIFA World Cup 2022 final After the victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, Messi said Maradona — who died two years ago — was looking over the team as Argentina came through a heated, fiery match. “Diego is watching us from heaven,” Messi said. “He is pushing us. I hope it stays like that until the end.” Well, Messi will be there at the end. And he is doing his very best impression of Maradona along the way.  

Soccer fan Gazi Jahidul Haque was struggling to hide his concern before the Argentina and Croatia World Cup semifinal at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium. Haque was watching the game in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. “This World Cup is not only important for Argentina, but also for Messi,” 35-year-old lawyer Haque said before the game, his voice barely audible as thousands behind him thronged to watch the match in front of a giant television screen at the University of Dhaka in the capital’s center. It was midnight Wednesday in Dhaka and by the time the final whistle blew with Argentina beating Croatia 3-0, Haque’s worries had long dissipated. Argentina was in the World Cup final, one win away from capturing the game’s greatest prize. The win meant Haque would get to see Messi — a player widely regarded as one of the game’s best – one more time at the World Cup. The celebrations began. Fans poured onto the streets in Dhaka waving Argentina flags and wearing the team’s sky blue and white jersey. Amid blaring trumpets, they chanted Messi’s name and hugged each other. Some held motorbike rallies. Others broke into song and dance. A young man rode on a rikshaw, his body painted in Argentinian colors. Argentina’s win was also celebrated in neighboring India, where it is cricket that is typically worshipped with near-religious fervor. Read more: 'It is the last one': Messi on World Cup 2022 In Kolkata city, where children are also named after football players from previous generations, Argentina fans marched in streets chanting songs for Messi's team. It’s a city where murals of Messi adorn the walls and Argentinian flags peek out of balconies with homes advertising their support. Argentina has a legion of passionate super fans in Bangladesh and India since the days of Maradona, one of the greatest to play the game and an icon to fans around the world. Already, thousands of them have traveled to Qatar to see Messi and his team play. Seeing its team getting massive support from the south Asian country, Argentina’s soccer federation earlier this month praised Bangladeshis on social media. “Thank you for supporting our team. You are as crazy as we are!” the federation said in a Twitter post with photos showing Bangladeshi fans wearing Argentina’s jersey. Those who aren’t in Qatar are displaying their allegiance by following the games with utmost devotion at home. In southern Kerala's coastal towns and villages, where flags of Argentina and Brazil are strung across shops, buildings and flagpoles, people have erected huge foam-board cutouts of their favorite players. Messi — and Brazil's Neymar — are the favorites. In villages, open spaces have been used for match screenings, with thousands flocking to watch the games on giant screens. On Sunday, Argentina will meet with either France or Morocco in the final. The fervor would reach its peak in India, and Aditya Shriram is waiting for a fairytale swan song for Messi. Shriram, a 33-year-old digital marketer in New Delhi, has been supporting Argentina since the 1998 World Cup. On Sunday, he will be watching the final with a group of nearly two dozen friends he grew up with playing soccer in the Indian capital. Read more: ‘To finish this way is brilliant’: Messi’s last dance, last chance for World Cup glory Shriram said Sunday’s game will have Messi play to seal his legacy, considering the greatest of all time — Pele and Maradona — have both won the World Cup, an accolade that had so far evaded the Argentinian superstar. “It’ll complete him,” Shriram said. “Unless you win the World Cup, you can’t be counted among the absolute greatest of all time.”