Coming from behind, Bangladesh played 1-1 draw with upper ranked Afghanistan in the 2nd and last match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly Football series in a rough and tough encounter at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here on Thursday. The match was locked in goalless position in a rain-soaked and keenly contested first half. Read : Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuyan signs for Argentine Club Bangladesh national football team played the two-match FIFA international Friendly series against their 32 ranked upper Afghanistan national side as a part of their preparation for the next month' s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Maldives. After the match, the two match series between the two teams also ended in a draw. In the day's crucial match, striker Jabar Sharza put Afghanistan ahead in the 53rd minute of the match by a cool header from a goal-mouth melee, utilizing a corner kick of his mate (1-0). Incidentally, it was the first goal in the country's new international football venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena --which turned as an international venue last Sunday with first FIFA int'l friendly, also against Afghanistan. Read : Bangladesh Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuiyan becomes brand ambassador of National STEAM Olympiad 2023 Country's promising forward Shekh Morsalin, who spoiled a golden opportunity against Afghanistan in the last match, compensated  his previous mistake scoring the match equaliser in the 63rd minute by pushing the ball to open net from a handshake distance , off a Bishwanath Ghosh cross from right wing (1-1). It was also the first goal for Bangladesh national team in the new venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena. After making the equaliser, Bangladesh team created strong pressure over Afghanistan one after another, but failed to change the fate of the match due to shakiness of the forwards as well as for the confident defense of Afghanistan. Read : Bangladesh Football team holds training ahead of Afghan challenge In the day's tense-packed match,  Afghan coach Abdullah Al Mutahiri and Bangladesh' s Assistant Coach Hasan Al Mamun got matching order in the 23rd minute after receiving red cards for non-sportsman like behavior and for clashing with each other. Afghan mid-fielder Faysal Shayesteh got marching order in the added time of the match after receiving 2nd yellow card.

Lionel Messi, often considered one of the greatest football players of all time, has once again been crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player award. This prestigious award, which recognizes the world's top footballer, was presented to Messi at a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. This is the second time that Messi has won the award after it got separated from the Ballon d’Or in 2016. The Argentine forward had an outstanding year, leading Argentina to the World Cup trophy, where he was also named the tournament's best player. A Brief History of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award is an annual award presented by the world governing body of football, FIFA. It was established in 2016 as part of a revamp of the FIFA World Player of the Year prize, which was presented between 1991 to 2015. Initially, the FIFA awards were given to the world's best men's football players, while similar awards for both males and females were presented between 2001 and 2009. In 2010, the men's award was merged into the FIFA Ballon d'Or, while the women's award remained until 2015. After 2015, both men's and women's awards were integrated into The Best FIFA Football Awards. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory The award is presented to the player deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year, as determined by a voting process involving captains and head coaches of international teams, as well as journalists and fans. 25% of the total vote is held by each group. The inaugural winner of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was then playing for Real Madrid. Ronaldo went on to win the award again in 2017, making him the only player to win it twice in the first three years of its existence. In 2018, Luka Modrić broke Ronaldo's streak by winning The Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the first time. After that, Messi won it in 2019. In 2020, Robert Lewandowski was awarded the title after an exceptional year with Bayern Munich. Read More: Messi voted best player at FIFA awards again Overview of Lionel Messi's Career in 2022 Messi passed a magical year in 2022. He appeared in 51 games for clubs and the national team. He scored 35 goals in total and had 35 assists. Among these 35 goals, he scored 17 goals for his club Paris Saint-Germain and 18 goals for Argentina. However, above all, his outstanding performance in the World Cup exceeds all his previous achievements. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Argentina's Lionel Messi had a tournament to remember. In the opening match against Saudi Arabia, Messi scored from the penalty spot in a 2–1 defeat. In the next match against Mexico, Messi scored a low 20-yard strike and recorded an assist on Enzo Fernández's goal in Argentina's 2–0 win. In the last 16 games versus Australia, Messi scored the opening goal of the game on his 1,000th senior career appearance, becoming the most-capped South American (CONMEBOL member) footballer of all time. He also surpassed and equaled several FIFA World Cup and national team records.  Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi assisted the first goal for Nahuel Molina with a reverse pass before scoring a penalty as the game ended 2–2 after extra time, and Argentina won 4–3 in the penalty shootout. In the semi-final against Croatia, Messi made a record-equalling 25th World Cup finals appearance, drawing level with Germany's Lothar Matthäus, and scoring the opening goal with a penalty before assisting Julián Álvarez’s goal in a 3–0 win. With his 11th World Cup goal, Messi overtook Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina's all-time top scorer at the World Cup. Messi then declared the final against France to be his last World Cup appearance. Read More: Argentine foreign minister will visit Dhaka late Feb, asked to bring Messi with him: Momen Lionel Messi Won the Best FIFA Men's Player Prize For 2022 In 2022, Lionel Messi was awarded the Best FIFA Men's Player prize, making him the third individual to receive the honor twice, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021). The last time Messi won The Best award was in 2019. Lionel Messi made history at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, becoming the sixth player to score in every knockout round of the world cup. His impressive performance included 7 goals and 3 assists, with his most impressive contribution coming during the final at Lusail, where he scored a brace. It was a remarkable achievement for Messi, who had never accomplished such a feat in his international career prior to Qatar. Kylian Mbappé was another contender for this award. Mbappé had 44 points, while Messi won The Best with 52 points. Voting for the FIFA The Best men's awards took into account performances from August 2021 to December 2022, with a particular emphasis on the FIFA men's World Cup, which ended in December of the same year. The award ceremony was designed to recognize the efforts of all participants throughout the world cup as well as the club, ensuring that everyone's accomplishments were acknowledged. Following is the resulting breakdown for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022. Rank Player Points Coaches Captains Media Fans 1. Lionel Messi (PSG / Argentina) 52 728 717 836 1,345,851 2. Kylian Mbappe (PSG / France) 44 478 395 433 391,676 3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid / France) 34 230 301 304 200,009 Read More: Bruised Ronaldo scores twice to edge showdown with Messi Final Words Lionel Messi's technical skills, breathtaking goals, and exceptional performances have earned him worldwide acclaim, making him a true legend in the world of football. His remarkable goalscoring record, his ability to lead his team to victory, and his commitment to the game make him a truly deserving recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022.

The FIFA Men’s Player Award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football. It is presented annually by FIFA to the best male football player of the year, recognizing outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and success on the field. The award has been presented since 1991 (formerly known as FIFA World Player of the Year) and rebranded in 2016 as The Best FIFA Men’s Player. It has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the football calendar. From the early days of George Weah and Zinedine Zidane to the recent domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the award has been given to some of the most iconic and talented players to grace the game. This year FIFA has released the Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022. Let’s explore the players’ power ranking. Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022 The award is a true testament to the excellence of the modern game and the players who inspire us with their performances. It is a celebration of the best of the best in football and a moment for fans to honor the players who make the game so special. This year 14 footballers got the nomination. Players Country Club Julián Álvarez Argentina Manchester City FC Jude Bellingham England BV Borussia 09 Dortmund Karim Benzema France Real Madrid CF Kevin De Bruyne Belgium Manchester City FC Erling Haaland Norway Manchester City FC Achraf Hakimi Morocco Paris Saint-Germain Robert Lewandowski Poland FC Barcelona Sadio Mané Senegal FC Bayern München Kylian Mbappé France Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi Argentina Paris Saint-Germain Luka Modrić Croatia Real Madrid CF Neymar Brazil Paris Saint-Germain Mohamed Salah Egypt Liverpool FC Vinícius Junior Brazil Real Madrid CF                   Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 Power Ranking After considering last year’s performance, some players will have a close competition, while Messi has a great chance of winning. The player is selected by a panel of international media members, coaches, and national team captains. The winner is determined through a combination of these votes and a public online poll. Let’s see the power ranking of the 2022 award. #1 Lionel Messi Argentine star Lionel Messi is top of the list after his great performance at the World Cup 2022. Lionel Messi is a phenomenon, having provided fans with many years of awe-inspiring football. His immense talent has finally been rewarded with the ultimate honor; a World Cup victory. He led the team to success with a series of goals and assists that amazed supporters in every corner of the world. The long wait is finally over. However, his club PSG’s elimination from the Champions League might be disappointing. But overall, it was an excellent year for Messi both in the national team and club with a total 51 appearances, 30 assists, and 35 goals. Besides, the winning of Trophée des Champions will put Messi forward in the award. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory #2 Kylian Mbappe The young French talent Mbappe just turned 24 last month, and he can look back on his incredible career so far with pride. As a one-time World Cup winner and a World Cup runner-up, Mbappe is confident that he will break even more records at the tournament in years to come. His ambition and talent are certain to continue to be a formidable force in the world of football. Kylian Mbappe put his name in the history books with a sensational hat trick in the World Cup 2022 final against Argentina. This incredible feat earned him the Golden Boot and capped off an impressive run at the tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was a standout performer on the world stage, further reinforcing his reputation as one of the best players of his generation. #3 Karim Benzema Although Karim Benzema missed the World Cup, his incredible performance for Real Madrid and France has put him on the nominees' list. Further, his Ballon d’Or winning is another factor in being eligible for this list. In 2021/2022, Karim Benzema achieved a remarkable feat - he won the La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the Champions League titles with Real Madrid! This success is proof of the strength of his talent and commitment to the sport. It is a great accomplishment for him and for the team as a whole. Read More: Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr: End of an Era in European Football #4 Kevin De Bruyne Widely recognized as one of the finest midfielders in the world, Kevin De Bruyne has earned his praises through his impressive long-range passes, assists, and deadly goal-scoring ability. The Manchester City star shines on the pitch and is a top contender for any awards that are up for grabs. However, at the World Cup 2022, Kevin De Bruyne was unable to prevent Belgium’s aging team from an early exit in the group stage. His performance was far from impressive, leaving many feeling disappointed. But his incredible performance for Manchester City made him listed in the FIFA Men’s Player award. #5 Robert Lewandowski At the peak of his career, Robert Lewandowski has become one of the most renowned strikers in the world. His impressive goal-scoring record is well known, and he is being widely discussed as a potential recipient of both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards. The 34-year-old Polish international has made a name for himself in the footballing world. But, he could not put much effort into the national team at the World Cup. It seemed that this could be the last time we see Robert Lewandowski at a World Cup, and he did not have the successful tournament he had hoped for. Despite this, he still managed to score two goals at a World Cup, which is an impressive accomplishment. But, his club performance in Bayern Munich and Barcelona keep him on the best players list. Read More: SAFF U-20 Women's Championship kicks off in Dhaka February 3 Final Words These five players are the top contenders. However, among all the players, Messi is surely ahead in the race. His performance was hugely influential in Argentina’s success, helping them to defeat France in the penalty shootout. This result will undoubtedly give Messi a significant edge in the race to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player award 2022.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is criticizing successor Gianni Infantino’s plans for a 48-team World Cup and an expanded Club World Cup. In an interview with German weekly Die Zeit released Wednesday, Blatter said that “what is happening at the moment is an overcommercialization of the game.” “There are attempts to squeeze more and more out of the lemon — for example with the World Cup finals with 48 teams or now with a Club World Cup that must be viewed as direct competition to the Champions League,” he was quoted as saying. “FIFA is encroaching here on something that is actually none of its business, club soccer.” The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the first 48-nation tournament, meeting Infantino’s election pledge of a bigger and more inclusive World Cup going beyond European and South American teams. This year’s tournament in Qatar featured 32 teams. Earlier this month, Infantino called for a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025. Read more: 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar Blatter announced in June 2015 that he would resign early as FIFA president, in the fallout from a sprawling corruption investigation. He has long denied wrongdoing, saying in Wednesday’s interview that “I have never taken money that I didn’t earn — that’s why nothing on me could ever be proven in all the proceedings against me. And that will remain the case.” Infantino, a fellow Swiss, succeeded Blatter in 2016. Blatter told Die Zeit that he has “no relationship with Infantino” and that the current president “behaved disrespectfully because he has refused any contact with me since his election.” Blatter added that “he only communicates with me via lawyers.” Blatter claimed that he had repeatedly “tried to control the business,” for example in attempting to limit transfers of talented South American or African players to Europe. An attempt to introduce a pay cap for players also failed. Blatter said “we didn’t manage to protect soccer from economic and political influence.” Read more: Asia reworks qualifying format for 48-team World Cup in 2026 “I really tried always to serve soccer,” he said. “If in doing so I damaged it, then I am sorry.”

A parade to celebrate the Argentine World Cup champions was abruptly cut short Tuesday as millions of people poured onto thoroughfares, highways and overpasses in a chaotic attempt to catch a glimpse of the national team that won one of the great World Cup finals of all time. So many jubilant, flag-waving fans swarmed the capital that the players had to abandon the open-air bus transporting them to Buenos Aires and board helicopters for a capital flyover that the government billed as an aerial parade. “The world champions are flying over the whole route on helicopters because it was impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of people’s happiness,” Gabriela Cerruti, the spokesperson for President Alberto Fernández, wrote on social media. After flying over key points of Buenos Aires where fans had gathered, the helicopters returned to the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association outside the capital. Some fans continued celebrating in the streets, while others headed out of Buenos Aires with long faces, complaining they were unable to pay their respects to the team that brought home the country’s first World Cup trophy since 1986. “We’re angry because the government didn’t organize this properly so we could all celebrate,” said Diego Benavídez, 25, who had been waiting since early morning to see the team. “They stole the World Cup from us.” Others, however, took it in stride. Read: Huge crowds welcome Argentina team after World Cup victory “I’m not disappointed, we lived the party,” said Nicolás López, 33, who was in downtown Buenos Aires with his 7-year-old daughter. The parade was suspended shortly after two people jumped from a bridge onto the open-top bus carrying the players. One made it inside the bus, the other fell onto the pavement. Football association head Claudio Tapia blamed law enforcement for the changeup of plans. “The same security organisms that were escorting us are not allowing us to move forward,” Tapia wrote on social media. “I apologize in the name of all the champion players.” Toward nightfall, when most of the fans had already poured out of downtown Buenos Aires, there were isolated clashes between a few stragglers and law enforcemen. At least eight people were injured, according to local media reports. The incidents began when firefighters went to the Obelisk, the iconic Buenos Aires landmark that is the traditional site of celebrations, to evict a few people who had broken their way inside the monument. The bus had been moving at a snail’s pace for more than four hours through the throngs of humanity before the overland parade was cut short. Team Captain Lionel Messi and the rest of the players waved at the massive crowd as they carried the World Cup trophy aloft after securing the country’s third title. “This is madness, it’s indescribable,” said Brian Andreassi, 23, as he walked downtown wearing the team’s jersey. “There are no words.” The World Cup and the success of the Messi-led squad brought much-needed good news for a country stuck for years in economic doldrums and suffering one of the world’s highest inflation rates, with nearly 4-in-10 people living in poverty. “There’s an immense union among all Argentines — unity, happiness. It’s as if you can breathe another air, there’s another energy in the air,” said Victoria Roldán. “My body and heart are about to burst.” Carrying a World Cup replica, the 32-year-old and her 36-year-old sister, Mariana, were eager to catch a glimpse of the team and in particular its captain, Messi. “We’re dying to see him,” Roldán said. “Seeing him with that immense smile, with those bright eyes filled with hope, it really fills our heart with joy and happiness. ... I think that Leo has deserved it for years, and this was his moment.” The players were all smiles as they watched the multitudes hostling to get as close as possible to the bus. An estimated 4 million people were in the streets by Tuesday afternoon, according to local media citing police sources. “I celebrate the way the people took to the streets to honor our squad,” President Alberto Fernández wrote on social media after the parade was cut short. Read: 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar Celebrating fans took over highways, avenues and the access routes into the capital as temperatures climbed to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Thousands had set up camp since early Tuesday morning at the Obelisk. The Argentine president declared a national holiday Tuesday so the country could celebrate the World Cup victory. The song “Muchachos,” which was written by a fan and became a popular unofficial anthem for the Argentine team at the World Cup, filled the streets as fans joined in singing it over and over again. Some fans also paid tribute to Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, the captain of the 1986 squad that won the World Cup and who died two years ago, with flags bearing his name and face. “This is for Diego, who’s seeing it from heaven,” fans chanted. “This is a party. The last time Argentina was a champion I was 3 years old, I don’t remember anything,” said Yael Torchinsky, 39. “I want to live this intensely because the Argentine people need this happiness.” By mid-afternoon, fans started filling up Plaza de Mayo in front of Government House, amid rumors the players might go there for a reprise of the festivities for Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory that were held there. Fernández’s administration had offered the palatial mansion, popularly known as the Casa Rosada, or Pink House, according to Security Minister Aníbal Fernández. The raucous welcome for the team began before dawn as thousands of fans lined up upon their return from Qatar. The players were beaming as they descended from their plane in Ezeiza, outside Argentina’s capital, shortly before 3 a.m. onto a red carpet. Messi was the first one out, carrying the World Cup trophy, flanked by coach Lionel Scaloni, who put his arm around the captain as they walked past a sign that read, “Thank you, champions.” The team was welcomed by rock band La Mosca singing “Muchachos,” and several players, including Messi, could be seen singing the words as they boarded the bus taking them to the Argentine Football Association headquarters. It took the bus an hour to travel the 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the airport to AFA headquarters, where the players were welcomed with fireworks, and then spent the night. In the morning, Messi posted a photo on social media showing him hugging the World Cup trophy next to him while he slept.

Even before an epic final won by Lionel Messi and Argentina, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was calling it “the best World Cup ever” in Qatar. There was clear self-interest to declare the success of a tournament that was politically fraught for most of the 12 years since the wealthy emirate was picked as host by a previous FIFA leadership broadly tainted by corruption allegations. FIFA's fundamental role is to oversee global soccer's rules and make sure World Cups happen on schedule: Goal achieved, billions of dollars duly earned. Read more: World Cup review: Best and worst of the tournament in Qatar As ever with arguably world sport's most colorful governing body, there was much else going on. ON THE FIELD When the games begin focus shifts to the field, and FIFA got that early on day three when Messi and Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia 2-1 in an upset for the ages. One day later, Germany lost to Japan and then Brazil delighted the world in its first game against Serbia. Morocco picked up the baton and was the first African or Arab nation to still be playing on the last weekend of a World Cup. Games were consistently compelling if not the best quality. These were not vintage Spain or Netherlands teams, and not even Brazil by the time of its quarterfinals exit. The drama rose with simultaneous group-stage games that carried Japan, South Korea and Croatia to the round of 16 and sent Germany and Belgium home. All continents got teams into the knockout rounds, letting Infantino repeat his claim of soccer “becoming truly global for the first time.” When the final was a true classic on Sunday, Argentina winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw, it left everyone except France feeling like they won. POLITICS It was a most political World Cup. Before a game was played there was scrutiny of Qatar for its human rights record, employment practices and a years-long boycott by neighboring states in which FIFA pushed for the Gulf region to share the tournament. In the final weeks of preparation, Qatar pushed back more confidently against its critics – a process FIFA joined after teams and media arrived on site. Infantino’s infamous “I feel gay, I feel a migrant worker” speech on Nov. 19 hit many of the host nation’s talking points that alleged western hypocrisy and racism. FIFA gave assurances in private — to European teams about captains wearing anti-discrimination armbands; to fans about wearing rainbow symbols; to World Cup sponsor AB InBev about selling Budweiser beer with alcohol at stadiums – that started to collapse. Bonds of trust were severely strained. Pre-tournament talk of being open to supporting a compensation fund and better resources for migrant workers in Qatar was mostly shut down. Read more: 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar Qatar’s World Cup was a state-run project and it seemed clear who was in charge. When European women lawmakers came to games wearing the “One Love” armband, Middle East officials started sporting a Palestinian armband. When an Italian field invader displayed European activist messages, days later a Tunisian man did the same with a Palestinian flag. During the tournament, basic operational detail was hard to get and most requests were ignored. Routine briefings and news conferences at past World Cups, including Russia in 2018, did not happen. A guiding principle seemed to be “never complain, never explain” for World Cup organizers. FANS The FIFA president is traditionally jeered at World Cup finals. It happened again on Sunday when Infantino was introduced for the trophy presentations. Infantino also was booed when the TV broadcast showed him sitting in VVIP seats during the England-Wales game. Both countries had armband and rainbow issues with FIFA, while British media extensively covered migrant labor issues. Though Argentina and Morocco fans traveled in big numbers, fewer than expected Europeans came to Qatar. The pre-tournament target was 1.2 million international visitors but the official total was less than 800,000 entering the final week. Yet, when thousands of Morocco fans tried to arrive for an unexpected semifinal against France last Wednesday, several flights into Doha were canceled to limit numbers. High-priced accommodation like tents and cabins also seemed to put off visiting fans. Empty seats at kickoff for most games would steadily fill by halftime. There was evidence and anecdotes of residents in Qatar being taken to games and offered free tickets, and the host nation’s loudest cheer squad was fans brought from Lebanon and Syria. When tournament attendance topped 3.4 million, it was unclear and went unanswered if the total included all the volunteers, catering and security staff who clocked in to work in stadiums. MORE MONEY This was a clear win for FIFA, despite a likely breach of contract issue to resolve with AB InBev. FIFA reported higher than expected revenue of $7.5 billion for the four-year commercial cycle tied to Qatar’s World Cup. The World Cup was a tougher sell in the past decade when new sponsors came only from Russia and Qatar — two often problematic host nations — and China while prosecutors in the United States, Switzerland and France ran corruption investigations targeting soccer officials. A late run of sponsor signings for this World Cup included tourism in Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas, plus companies in the online gambling, cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors. Read more: Messi fulfils his destiny, Argentina win third World Cup Most deals now expire and FIFA plans to cash in from staging a bigger 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, by offering sponsors huge local markets and more games being played mostly in high-yield NFL stadiums. Infantino said on Friday that FIFA’s four-year forecast is for $11 billion through 2026. All 211 member federations will be getting millions more dollars from Zurich. HIGH LIFE FIFA leaders could stay in opulent Qatari hotels that opened just in time for the World Cup. One base was the waterside Fairmont Hotel, nearly 40 stories high and shaped like a curved sword. It offered 18-karat gold tiles in the shower of some suites and a 56-meter (185-foot) high chandelier in the lobby. Coupled with an unprecedented level of security at a World Cup, it added to the feel of FIFA isolating in an ivory tower. While France’s President Emmanuel Macron went for a brief walkabout at the main market in Doha, Infantino almost never met ordinary fans. One regular Infantino companion was a celebrity chef famed for painting gold leaf on steaks that costs hundreds of dollars at his restaurants. The chef, known as Salt Bae, also seemed to breach World Cup protocol by holding the gold trophy when joining the Argentina players on the field on Sunday for post-game celebrations. For veteran FIFA watchers, it was an apt final symbol for the World Cup in Qatar.

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.

Hind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her country's history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal — to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals. For the 26-year-old English teacher in Morocco's capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, it's about to get more complicated. Next up is France: The defending champion and Morocco’s former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century. Wednesday’s match has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It dredges up everything that’s complex about the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence. “This game is one of a kind,” Sabouni said. “Especially since France is next to beat.” “We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s backyard." For the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe — on the soccer pitch at least — even though immigration between the two countries has blurred the lines for many in France and Morocco about who to support Wednesday in Qatar. Read more: Motherly love boosts Morocco’s team spirit at World Cup Over the past decade, Morocco’s relationship with France has changed. Sabouni said her generation of Moroccans is tired of France’s dominance. Young Moroccans, she said, “speak English instead of French, they buy more American products than French ones and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.” “Even though this is just a football game, some people view it as an opportunity for revenge,” Sabouni said. But not everyone. Kenza Bartali, a communications professional in Rabat, sees no political overtones to the match. She obtained her master's degree in France, and lived for two years in Paris and the southern cities of Nice and Toulon between 2016 and 2018. She made “wonderful friends" who are still her friends today. “Most Moroccan students were treated with respect," the 26-year-old said. Still, there is no doubt which team she's supporting. “I sincerely hope that Morocco advances to the final,” Bartali said. “I am aware that it will be difficult because France is a very good team, but we are hoping for the best.” Sabouni's sentiments resonate with Moroccans and other North Africans in France. Although the younger generation of immigrants and their descendants appear to be more at ease with multiple identities and languages in France, they still face institutional discrimination, racial and ethnic prejudice in public life, economic hardship and lack of job opportunities. As in previous World Cups, France once again has turned to their national soccer team made up of players from diverse backgrounds as evidence that the country has indeed become a melting pot despite lurking prejudice, stoked against immigrants by elected right-wing politicians. “Cultural changes and changes in life on the ground do have an effect and the team represents that,” said Laurent Dubois, a professor at University of Virginia in Charlottesville who has authored two books on French and international soccer. Read more: Morocco become first African & Arab nation to reach WC semis “The way the players inhabit being French and don’t seem to have an issue with also being African or anything else at the same time is an antidote to the immigrant resentment on the right.” In Morocco, people have embraced the team's foreign-born players as their native sons. They welcome the experience and professionalism they bring from Europe's top clubs and are proud they chose Morocco as their national team when they could have played for the countries of their births, from Spain to Canada to Belgium and beyond. The Morocco national team depends heavily on the diaspora, with 14 of the squad’s 26 players born abroad, including their French-born coach, Walid Regragui, the highest proportion for any team at the World Cup. Like Morocco’s supporters at home and an estimated 5 million scattered around Europe and beyond, many players grapple with family tales of colonial history, the challenges of immigration and questions of national loyalty. They want desperately to detach from the burdens of the past and win a place in the World Cup final — whether home for them is in France or Morocco, or Belgium, Canada, Tunisia, Algeria or elsewhere. “Most of the Moroccan players who were born abroad chose Morocco as their national team because they feel they play for more than just to win a football match,” said Maher Mezahi, a Marseille-based Algerian journalist covering African football. “They play to elevate national pride and to make their family proud." For Regragui, his and his player's dual identities are meaningless in the biggest match the squad has faced. “I’m a dual national, and that’s an honor and a pleasure,” the Moroccan coach said. “And it’s an honor and a pleasure to face France. But I’m the Morocco coach and we’re going to be playing the best team in the world. The most important thing is to get through to the final.” “When we play for the Moroccan national team, we are Moroccans,” Regragui said.

France’s reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar was much anticipated. But no one ever thought that Morocco would emerge as their opponent in the semi. Moroccans are said to be a dark horse in this tournament. Will the African team, which has produced one surprise after another, be able to stun the football world once more? We will get the answer tonight. The French will enter the field as favorites as they are ahead in apparent numbers, strength, and experience. Let’s get to know more from this France vs Morocco semi-final preview. When and Where France vs Morocco Semi-final Match Will Be Held? France and Morocco will meet at Al Bayt Stadium on December 15 at 1 AM Bangladesh time. France vs Morocco: Head-to-Head Records So Far Hakim Ziyech’s team became the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. This time the biggest obstacle in front of them is the current world champion France. Let’s take a look at the statistics of these two teams before the semi-final battle. The first question that will come to everyone’s mind is who is ahead in the fight between these two teams in the World Cup. The answer is that this is the first time these two teams are facing each other in the World Cup. Although the Moroccan national team started in 1955, these two teams have not met in the World Cup until now. And now we are seeing them in a time where they can make history if they win. Although they have not met in the World Cup, these two teams have met 11 times in international football, where France is quite ahead. In their eleven meetings, France won 7 matches, Moroccans won one, and three matches were drawn. However, Morocco won its first appearance in 1963. Meanwhile, France and Morocco have faced each other in various minor tournaments. France has won every time there. The last time these two teams faced each other was in 2007. However, it was a 2-2 draw. But this time the stage is different. And in this World Cup, Morocco’s strength is also very evident. Read More: Argentina erupts in joy after team reaches World Cup final Performance of France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup So Far France was one of the 13 teams that played in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. With this, France has appeared in the 16 World Cup and won the cup two times. Except for the loss to Tunisia in the group stage, France’s Qatar World Cup journey was very smooth. After beating Poland in the round of 16, they faced a strong team, England, in the quarter-final. However, that match was moderately easy, too; they won by a 2-1 goal. Both teams fought hard in the heavyweight match of the quarter-finals. However, the entire responsibility for England’s loss to France should be on the captain Harry Kane. In the 84th minute of the match, England trailed by 2-1 goals. And just at that moment, England got a penalty. Earlier, Kane equalized England by scoring from the spot kick. However, Kane missed the second penalty, and they had to leave the World Cup. But the French team is at an excellent pace. France’s attacking trio is in rhythm. Kylian Mbappe with 5 goals tops the list of highest goal scorers. Expert striker Olivier Giroud scored 4 goals, including the quarter-final winning goal against England. Forward Antoine Griezmann is playing great despite not seeing a goal so far. He assisted two goals in a 2-1 win against the English. France has no injury update, and no player is missing the game. So, they will start the match with the main squad. France’s players to watch Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Aurélien Tchouaméni. Read More: Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final Morocco's Performance in the FIFA 2022 World Cup So Far Meanwhile, in addition to being undefeated in the World Cup, Morocco has conceded only one goal. That, too, was an own goal against Canada. As a result, there is no opportunity to question Morocco’s defense. They went to the last sixteen as the group’s best and sent off the 2010 World Cup champion Spain in a penalty shootout. After that, they beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s team Portugal by 1-0 at the scheduled time and booked their ticket to the semis. But Morocco may fall behind in the field from one side. And that is the experience of not playing in the semi-finals on such a world stage. Where France is playing in the semi-final for the seventh time in the World Cup. However, the ‘Giant Destroyer’ Moroccans have already proved that they have the ability to send off another strong team. Their excellent defensive performance has contributed greatly to Morocco’s unprecedented success. Morocco’s main strength is their defensive understanding, above all, the mental acuity to use their plans on the field. Rather than defense, however, Morocco will look to Sofyan Amrabat to keep France’s midfield inactive. Essentially Amravati will need to flare up one more to stop Griezmann. Along with that, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s great form will keep them ahead mentally. Romain Saiss’s injury could be a concern for Morocco. If he doesn’t return, there won’t be much chance to stop Giroud. Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui may be able to handle Mbappe and Dembele in the pace game in two wings. However, if Giroud can commit a few passes in the match to either of them, then danger will appear in Morocco’s defense. Morocco’s players to watch Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, and Yassine Bounou. Read More: Modrić's dream of winning World Cup ends Squads of France & Morocco in the Semi-final of FIFA World Cup 2022 Probable Starting Squad of France Against Morocco Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud Probable Starting Squad of Morocco Against France Bounou; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal France vs Morocco Semi-final Match Result Prediction France is clearly ahead of Morocco in terms of experience and pace. So, according to experts, France will easily win this game. They may score at least 2 goals without conceding any goal. Final Words France vs Morocco semi-final of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 will be an exciting match, with both teams will surely fight hard for the win. Both teams possess the skill and talent to make a thrilling match, and the winner could be decided by a moment of brilliance or a mistake. France is the favorite to win this match, but Morocco has the ability to surprise and put up a good fight.

No matter what football tradition, history, or FIFA rankings say, there is no such thing as a big or small team in the semifinals of the World Cup. And FIFA World Cup 2022 does not have that at all. Four teams have entered the semifinals as qualifying teams after passing difficult steps one after another. So, the first semifinal between Argentina and Croatia tonight will be a close match. Time and Venue of Argentina vs Croatia Semi-final Match Argentina and Croatia will meet in the first semifinal at Lusile Stadium on Tuesday, December 13, at 10 PM local time, and Wednesday, December 14, at 1 AM Bangladesh time. Argentina vs Croatia: Head-to-Head Record So Far This is not the first time that the two countries have faced each other on the world stage; these two teams have faced each other before. The two countries met for the first time in 1994 in an international friendly match. The match ended in a goalless draw. Four years later, they met for the second time in the 1998 World Cup, which was a first in the World Cup. In that match, Argentina left the field with a 1-0 victory. Then in 2006, they met for the third time in an international friendly match. Where the Croats left the field with a 3-2 victory. In 2014, the two teams met again in an international friendly match for the fourth time. Albiceleste left the field with a 2-1 goal difference. After that, in 2018, they met for the fifth time at the World Cup in Russia. Croatia defeated Argentina 3-0 in that match of the group stage. That memory is still fresh. So, they will surely want to repeat it. However, we will have to wait until the end of the match on December 13 to finally see who wins the crucial semifinal match. In total 5 matches, Croats won 2 matches, and one ended with no result. However, both countries are equal in World Cup statistics. Argentina and Croatia have won 1 match each in two appearances. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Semi-Final Round Overview Argentina's Performance So Far in the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: An Overview Two-time world champions Argentina stepped into the leadership of Lionel Messi in Qatar from 36 matches unbeaten to break the 36-year title drought. But the Albiceleste suffered a big blow in that mission by losing a 2-1 goal against Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Then they won against Poland and Mexico by 2-0 goals in both games. Argentines reached the quarter with a 2-1 victory over Australia in the knock out stage. After that, the Albiceleste confirmed the semifinals once again in 2014 by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. Now they are in the semifinals. Then they turned around and won four straight games, and now they are in the semifinals, where they got the previous season's runner-up Croatia as an opponent. Although Argentina is in a good rhythm, they will have to start the match without defenders Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna, as they received their second yellow card of the tournament in their last match. Montiel saw his very first yellow card of the World Cup against Saudi Arabia. So Scaloni was playing him consciously, but in the end he was not saved. The defender had to see a yellow card despite coming on as a substitute against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. According to FIFA rules, he will miss the next match. Same situation with Acuna. He got a yellow card against the Poland which was the last match of the group stage. He saw second yellow card of the tournament in the second half against the Dutch. Without getting two defenders in the semifinals, Scaloni must be in a tough situation, which will be a weak point for Argentina. On the other hand, another history will give confidence to the Argentina camp. Argentina did not lose any semifinals in the World Cup. Before the World Cup in Qatar, Argentina had played in the semifinals four times so far, in 1930, 1986, 1990, and 2014. Argentina is the favorite in the semifinals, regardless of the opponent team. Where they never had to see the face of defeat. Argentina's players to watch:  Lionel Messi, Alexis Mac Allister, Emiliano Martinez. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022 Argentina vs Croatia LIVE Streaming: Where and How to watch online and TV Channel, Predicted XI An Overview of Croatia's Performance in the 2022 World Cup Meanwhile, Croatia has not lost a single match in Qatar World Cup. With one win and two draws, Croatia entered the last sixteen as group runners-up. After that, the Croats defeated the famous Blue Samurai Japan in the penalty shootout and reached the quarterfinals. And in the first quarterfinal, Croatia defeated the five-time world champion Brazil in a tiebreaker to confirm the semifinal. Where they got two-time world champions Argentina. When Croatia reached the final at the last World Cup, it was, according to many, unexpected. Now Croatia is on the way to the final again. Croatia got a historic win against the football powerhouse Brazil in the quarterfinals. Neither team scored in the scheduled 90 minutes. In extra time, Brazil's Neymar skillfully broke through the opponent's defense and scored a spectacular goal. But Croatia quickly leveled the score. Croatia beat Brazil 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Apparently, Croatian captain, Luca Modric has been playing an important as a captain in all their matches. However, Modric is playing a little lower, and his game is acting as Croatia's engine. Modric often played defensively in the quarterfinal against Brazil. Modric's long pass also contributed to the goal that equalized Croatia. Croatia does not have any injury or suspension report. So, all the regular players will appear in the semifinal. Croatia's players to watch:  Dominik Livakovic, Josko Gvardiol, Luka Modric. Read More: Messi, Modric carry Argentina, Croatia into World Cup semis Probable Starting Squad of Argentina vs Croatia Semi-final Match How Scaloni will line up the squad against the Croats can only be guessed because he sets everything at the very last moment. Di Maria is returning fully fit, and Rodrigo de Paul will be in the first eleven in midfield. Nicolás Tagliafico will fill Acuna's deficit at left back. Enzo and Mac Allister should start in the first eleven in this match as well. Argentina:  Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister, Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez. Croatia:  Livakovic, Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic. Argentina vs Croatia Semi-final Match Result Prediction Analyzing Croatia's past record and the performance in this World Cup, Messi's team may lose the game in the tiebreaker. There might not be any goals in 90 minutes. Earlier in the World Cup in Russia, Croatia won two tiebreakers in the knockout stages. Along with this, Croatia won the tiebreaker with Japan and Brazil in the 2022 Word Cup so far. Although the team could not keep the ball in the allotted 90 minutes, they contributed well to the tiebreaker. Who is the Referee in Argentina vs Croatia Semifinal match? There has been much controversy about the refereeing of the Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal match. Argentina accused the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz was not up to the mark. Italy's Daniele Orsato has been assigned the role of referee in the Argentina-Croatia match in the semifinals. 47 years old, Orsato has already managed Argentina's matches. He was in charge of the Argentina-Mexico match on the group stage. Earlier, the opening match of the tournament between Qatar and Ecuador was managed by this Italian referee. In addition to that, Orsato has experience officiating several important matches in the Italian league Serie A and the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final.  Read More: After Neymar, Croatia aim to end Messi’s World Cup dream Final Words Croatia has been performing great in this World Cup, and this match will be tough for both teams. However, all the attention will be on Messi, who has been ruling the football world for more than a decade. But, Messi may find difficulties entering Croatia's strong defense. According to the power and rhythm, Croatia is clearly ahead of Argentina. So, the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 tournament's Argentina vs Croatia semi-final match will surely be entertaining for the fans.