It seems as if time has flew by in Qatar at this year’s World Cup, and while the tournament was met with so much controversy, once the action kicked off in the Middle East, fans were reminded just how much they missed on the world’s biggest stage.
An occasion four and a half years in the making, the World Cup odds 2022 will have been tough to call, as fans prepare to pack out the Lusail Stadium and billions around the world to tune in for the showpiece event.
As we reflect on the time spent at the 2022 World Cup, so many great players have graced the pitch, but let’s take a look at three who have particularly stood out at this year’s tournament. Read on to find out more.
Cody Gakpo
One of the next big things in world football, while there is obviously talk of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, 23-year-old Cody Gakpo has become the main man for the Netherlands seemingly out of nowhere. While fans of the Eredivisie will be aware of the PSV attacker’s goal threat, notching up 20 goal contributions before the international break, his chance arrived at the World Cup when an injury to Memphis Depay let him lead the line as Holland’s number nine. Three goals from three group stage matches set a record only matched by Wesley Sneijder and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the famous orange, and after impressing in Qatar, Gakpo has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. It will be interesting to see where he plies his trade next term.
Lionel Messi
It’s hard not to talk about football’s most prestigious tournament without mentioning the best player to have ever graced the beautiful game. Lionel Messi continues to defy belief at the age of 35, and even after surpassing 1000 career games, looks as nimble and as exciting as he did when he arrived on the scene for Barcelona back in 2006. The little magician has been integral for Argentina, in an attempt to make amends for the defeat to Germany in 2014, one he feels his side still should have won, despite picking up a Golden Ball for his efforts.
“I don’t care about the prize. I don’t care about anything. Right now, nothing can console me — not the award or anything else,” he said. “I wanted to take Argentina to the World Cup for all the people.
“I believe this World Cup deserved another final because we had chances. We reached the final… but we’re disappointed not to have won this game. There’s a lot of anger.”
Kylian Mbappe
What a special player Mbappe is. Most of us already knew that though. Having won the World Cup in his maiden voyage with France four years ago, the Paris Saint Germain star is really stamping his authority as a legend in the World Cup. Having scored a brace against Poland in the round of 16, he demonstrated perhaps the most complete performance of the tournament, with his blend of pace, power and efficiency in the final third a massive influence for Dider Deschamps.
As the years go by, and we gear up for 2026, you wonder how long it will take before there are talks of Mbappe breaking Miroslav Klose’s record for goals at the World Cup. Only time will tell how far the Frenchman’s ceiling will take him.
