An overview of contenders in the race for top scorer at the 2022 World Cup.
Argentina came out on top over France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at Lusail by 4-2 on penalties after both teams finished 3-3 at extra time.
Croatia were not the favourites to reach the last four again but they came through two penalty shootouts in a repeat of their 2018 exploits.
Leeds sack Gracia, Allardyce to step in till season ends
The comparison with Maradona for the title of the greatest Argentine player of all time cannot be complete without a world title, which the late Maradona won almost single-handedly 36 years ago.
Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt.
Lionel Messi kept his dream of winning his first World Cup alive by rifling in the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Mexico in World Cup Group C, proving he was far from done in the tournament.
Argentina are on a 36-match unbeaten run with top scorer and captain Messi playing his fifth and last World Cup in search of the elusive honour
Chhetri has played for India 142 times and has scored 92 goals, the most by an Indian. He is also currently the third most prolific scorer in international football among active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tough but beautiful encounter with the Netherlands when the sides meet in Friday's World Cup quarter-final.
Barcelona have won the Champions League five times, most recently in 2015, and face a tough task to get back to the top table of European football after being forced to sell club legend Lionel Messi due to financial problems.
Busquets, who retired from international duty last year, has made more than 700 appearances for Barcelona and holds the record for playing in more El Clasicos than any other player with 48 appearances against Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid.
The stadium erupted in cheers once more with Fernandez's late strike which sealed Argentina's first win in the tournament and rekindled Messi's hopes of a first-ever World Cup title.
A furious Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off the pitch after Al-Nassr lost to Al-Ittihad.
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America but despite always being one of the World Cup favourites they have not lifted football's most precious trophy in the last 36 years.
This is the first time a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list in eight years.
Julian Alvarez bagged Argentina's second from close range in the 57th minute after fatal hesitation from Ryan with the ball at his feet following a backpass.
Messi or Suarez should win World Cup if not Spain, says Luis Enrique
Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi's Argentina 2-1 with brilliant individual goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari during the FIFA World Cup Group C match on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to prevent him from leaving for free.
By winning the World Cup on Sunday, the Argentine football team asserted its ability, but Martinez also proved that the Argentines can be bad sportsmen.
Fans get their body tattooed after Argentina's soccer national team won FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 20, 2022.
Captain Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to an emphatic 3-0 victory against Italy in a heavyweight clash billed as the 'Finalissima' in London on Wednesday.
'Leo wants to return to Barca and I would also like him to return'
Messi beat seven players, covering 48 metres in 12 seconds, taking 10 touches with his left foot and three with his right before finding the net.
Messi said his team knew Saudi Arabia, despite being the team ranked second-lowest in the tournament, could hurt them.
Ronaldo said the league was very competitive but that there were many opportunities to grow.
Argentina began their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Iceland -- a game in which Messi missed a penalty -- and finished second in their group before being knocked out by eventual winners France in the last 16.
Two of the most intimidating strikers in world football, Argentina's 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland's 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up against each other on Wednesday with a last 16 place at stake in the World Cup.
'After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it was time to go to the US league to experience football in a different way and enjoy the day-to-day.'
Messi signed off for 2022 by hailing the year when he won the World Cup as one he "will never be able to forget".
Lautaro said Argentina dominated the match against the Saudis and did not deserve to lose, having three goals ruled out for close offside calls by VAR.
Boxer Alvarez fumes at Messi celebration video after beating Mexico
Lionel Messi lamented Argentina's shock second half capitulation against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday but said he was not surprised by the threat from opponents 48 places lower in the world rankings.
The intricate play and tight triangles Croatia were attempting only had to falter in a tiny way, and when they did Argentina were ready to pounce.
"It's a beautiful thing that many people outside Argentina want us to be champions and that it's largely because of me," Messi said.
PSG forward Messi, 35, was next on the list after bringing home a combined $130 million while club team mate and France captain Mbappe -- the youngest on the list at 24 -- earned $120 million to sit third.
The Argentine forward's glittering resume has one major omission -- a World Cup winner's medal.
Seven times reigning winner Lionel Messi was not nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or for the first time since 2005 and nor was his Paris Saint-Germain team mate Neymar.
These heart-rendering moments were grace personified and will stay in the memory of every football fan, irrespective of allegiances.
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