England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

Santos, Doak & eight best Premier League loanees of the season

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson from anywhere

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Twellman reportedly investigated for physical altercation

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Messi loses 2014 World Cup final</li><li>Argentina win 2022 Qatar World Cup</li><li>Messi claims it was his destiny</li></ul>

‘God wanted me to be world champion’ - Lionel Messi claims 2022 World Cup triumph was destiny after previous heartbreaks with Argentina

World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL

Argentina

Peru

The 36-year-old has claimed it was his destiny to secure the World Cup trophy last December, after his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-completed-football-argentina-world-cup-win-2023-ballon-dor/blt2ef8bfdaf8f38dbc" target="_blank">Argentina side triumphed </a>over France in the final on penalties at the Lusail Stadium. Messi was on the scoresheet twice, in the first half and extra-time, and also slotted his penalty away during the tense penalty shoot-out against Didier Deschamps' side.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking in the Star+ documentary 'Champions, a year later', via <a href="https://www.espn.com.ar/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/12922275/lionel-messi-los-argentinos-me-quieren-y-es-una-hermosura" target="_blank">ESPN</a>, Messi explained how he thought he was destined to win back in December, where he said: "I said it many years ago,&nbsp;I was sure that I was going to be world champion. It was before losing the final in Brazil. Then it happened.&nbsp;I had something that I knew that God wanted me to be world champion, that he was going to give it to me. I always trusted that. There were many stumbling blocks along the way, because I had a really bad time, but in the end it happened."

WHAT MESSI SAID

Messi had previously tasted defeat in the World Cup final back in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where Germany won the competition for the fourth time, thanks to a winner from Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Götze.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain star now finds himself in America with David Beckham's MLS franchise, Inter Miami. He has taken the league by storm with 13 goals and assists across all competitions last term, however was unable to secure a spot in the playoffs. He will now enjoy a significant period of rest, before he returns to action with his Miami side in February 2024.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

‘God wanted me to be world champion’ - Lionel Messi claims 2022 World Cup triumph was destiny after previous heartbreaks with Argentina | Goal.com

Argentina legend Lionel Messi has claimed &apos;God wanted&apos; him to win the World Cup following his glory at Qatar 2022.