Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Morocco, Iran protests, Cristiano Ronaldo – Top 10 moments of the 2022 Qatar World Cup

Ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, few knew what to expect from a tournament that seemed blighted by injury absence, political controversy and a November start.

On the pitch at least, fans were rewarded with some exceptional football before Argentina went on to beat France in a thrilling final.

We look back at our top 10 highlights of the competition in Qatar.

England hit six to rekindle Southgate’s career

Ahead of the tournament, reports suggested that Gareth Southgate was convinced that he had taken England fair enough. Regardless of the outcome, he’d be stepping down. A group of Wales, Iran and the United States was doable, but potentially tricky. After a troubling Nations League showing, criticism of Southgate was mounting and alternatives were demanded.

Against Iran though, England’s young attacking talent shone through. At Qatar, Harry Kane led ably but there was Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Mason Mount and others who showed enough to convince fans that there was a foundation to build upon.

A 6-2 thrashing against Iran kickstarted a campaign that was only arrested by eventual finalists, France, and once the tournament approached its end, Southgate was ready to commit to two more years.

Messi proves his brilliance once more

Lionel Messi had improved for Paris Saint-Germain this season compared to his first campaign in France, away from his formative club, Barcelona. He was not anywhere close to his mesmerising best, though, and in the relatively easy surroundings of Ligue 1, it was not easy to gauge how much of his talent had been lost to time. We found out in Qatar that there was still enough when needed.

Against last tournament’s finalists, Croatia, Messi was at the heart of victory.

Mbappe’s hat-trick earns him a presidential hug

Kylian Mbappe scored three goals, and a third nerveless penalty in the shootout, and still came away in tears.

For the first half he was invisible, showing none of his courageous individual gumption that he so regularly displayed, but his talent and force of personality came to the fore when it mattered most.

Three goals with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, including a second penalty with a few minutes of injury-time remaining, plus beating the provocative Emiliano Martinez from the sport for a third time in the shootout, and the rest of his team-mates could not match his bravery. One of the great World Cup final performances earned him a consoling hug from France president Emmanuel Macron.

Ronaldo loses his place for club and then country

Before the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo granted an interview to the obsequious Piers Morgan, in a transparent attempt to force his way out of Manchester United. Given Erik ten Hag had been clear that he no longer wanted the striker at the club, an agreement to see him on his way was secretly arranged, and ahead of the tournament in Qatar, Saudi Arabian clubs, Napoli, Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon were all linked with the 37-year-old.

However, when Portugal lined up in their last-16 tie against Switzerland, Fernando Santos dropped him to the bench, and promptly won 6-1 in a devastating attacking display. While nobody can denigrate all that Ronaldo has achieved on the pitch, football seems to be leaving him behind.

Saudi Arabia shock Argentina

Who would have thought on November 22 that Argentina would be 2022 World Cup champions?

Of course Argentina turned all that on its head by going on to lift the trophy, but just as the final was one of the greatest of all time, their loss to Saudi Arabia was one of the biggest World Cup upsets. It wasn’t a complete smash and grab either, as Saudi Arabia stifled Argentina in the second half after scoring a couple of fine goals.

The result ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run and sparked wild celebrations among the Saudi Arabia supporters in the stands.

When Spain and Germany were going out

The last round of group stage matches threw up drama aplenty, none crazier than in Group E, when at one stage Spain and Germany were both heading out and Japan and Costa Rica were going into the last 16.

Costa Rica, who had been thrashed 7-0 by Spain in their opening match, gave themselves a shot of qualifying after coming from behind to lead Germany. At the same time Japan led Spain after scoring a controversial goal when the ball appeared to have gone out for a goal-kick (remember all those pictures of balls and shadows from different angles?).

Unfortunately for Costa Rica they couldn’t hold on and ended up losing 4-2 to Germany. The result saw both sides crash out and Spain advance along with Japan.

We will always have those few dizzying minutes though.

Netherlands stun with innovative free-kick

What do you do when you get a last-gasp free-kick around the box with the game on the line?

The traditional approach is what England did in their World Cup quarter-final against France; look to fire a shot into the top corner of the goal.

Their 101st-minute equaliser against Argentina was one of the more innovative goals ever seen at a World Cup as, instead of going for a shot, the ball was passed with disguise into the box to Wout Weghorst, who calmly slotted to spark wild celebrations among the Dutch players.

Will we see drawn up and disguised plays like this in the future?

Ghana earn Suarez revenge

Luis Suarez is largely anunpopular character. For the everyday fan, he is infamous for a ban for using alleged racist language against Patrice Evra, and for biting two other players. For Liverpool fans, he harmed his reputation when he celebrated scoring against them while playing for Barcelona. For Ghana in particular, he is disliked for a handball that prevented a goal in the 2010 World Cup, and chortled as the penalty was missed and Uruguay got the result they needed.

Morocco make history

Who had Morocco making the semi-finals? And beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way?

An incredible achievement by Morocco as they became the first African team to make the semi-finals of the World Cup. It was amazing to see how much it meant to the players, who received some of the best support at the tournament.

Morocco started with their first World Cup win since 1998, beating Belgium 2-0, and went on a remarkable run that ended with a 2-0 defeat to France.

Head coach Walid Regragui compared his side to a much-loved boxer.

“We have made our people and our continent so happy and proud. When you watch ‘Rocky,’ you want to support Rocky Balboa and I think we are the ‘Rocky’ of this World Cup. I think now the world is with Morocco.”

Iran and Germany protest

The One Love arm band may have fallen by the wayside before the tournament even started, but there were still notable protests.

Germany players covered their mouths during the team photo ahead of their opening game and wore warm-up tops with rainbow-coloured stripes in protest over FIFA banning the One Love armband. Arsene Wenger suggested their actions played a part in their surprising group-stage exit.

Perhaps the most powerful protest came from Iran, though.

Iran’s captain Ehsan Hajsafi spoke in support of anti-government protests in the country while players did not sing their national anthem ahead off their opening World Cup match with England.

The protests and civil unrest in Iran began after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody in September after she had been arrested by the Guidance Patrol for not complying with rules on head coverings.

After Iran had been eliminated from the tournament there were celebrations as it was seen as some as a blow to the ruling regime.