Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFor Argentina, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was far more than just the end of an agonising 36-year wait to be crowned champions of the world again.It was an emotional rollercoaster of a month, which saw the Albiceleste swing from despair to ecstasy, with captain Lionel Messi at the heart of this journey as he added the one major prize that had so far alluded him.For former Argentina skipper Javier Zanetti - whose 18-year international career came and went during the Albicelestes wait for a second World Cup crown - the memories of that month in Qatar will never wane.Zanetti on how Argentinas 2022 World Cup defined a generationGet FourFourTwo's World Cup Wallchart HERE, NOW!Don't make us ask twice. The first game is going to finish and you're going to wish you had a wallchart to fill in. Plan ahead. View DealFour years have passed, but that moment was unforgettable for me and all Argentinians seeing our captain, Lionel Messi, lift the World Cup, Zanetti recalls to FourFourTwo.My family were in Qatar with me we lived through that month, experiencing every emotion, from the defeat against Saudi Arabia when it seemed like there wouldnt be a happy ending, to the moment of triumph. You may like How to watch Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Which records will Lionel Messi break at World Cup 2026? Lionel Messi's final World Cup squad: Every player in Argentina's 2026 selection The 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia was one of the group stages biggest upsets, as the Asian side ended what had been a 36-match unbeaten streak for Argentina that dated back to 2019.It also brought back memories of Argentinas opening match defeat to Cameroon in 1990, a tournament in which they lost the final.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Wins over Mexico and Poland ensured a safe passage into the knockout phase, where Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia were dispatched before Argentinas epic win over France in one of the best-ever World Cup finals.Right after the match, I had the chance to go down to the pitch, Zanetti adds when asked about the final.I greeted all the players, and the only ones I hadnt seen yet were Lautaro Martinez and Messi.While looking for Lautaro and climbing the podium, someone tapped me on the leg. I turned around, and it was Messi.We hugged, and I thanked his wife and kids as well. I told them that they didnt know how lucky they are to have the father they have. That was a special moment for me. Messi didnt need the World Cup to be among the greatest of all time, but he deserved it. He brought glory to Argentina.Lionel deserved that moment of glory, that once-in-a-lifetime experience. He suffered so much with the national team. But finally, he got the chance to lift the World Cup.TOPICSArgentinaWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromDani Gil
