Doha: Argentina captain Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball in the FIFA World Cup – 2022 against France on Sunday. He became the first player in the history of the tournament to have won the award twice.

He was adjudged the best player in 2014 as well, when the Albiceleste had finished runners-up to Germany. Argentina had started the tournament with a shock loss against Saudi Arabia but they regrouped and produced great performances one after another to eventually win their third World Cup title after 36 years after the legendary Diego Maradona had led them to their second title.