It happened in a flash, yet it felt like the world stopped spinning for a second. December 18, 2022. Lusail Stadium. You remember where you were. I certainly do. The image of Messi besando la copa del mundo wasn't just a sports photo; it was the closing of a circle that had been jagged and broken for nearly two decades.
He didn't even wait for the official trophy presentation. That’s the thing people forget. Before the robe, before the confetti, before the teammates mobbed him, Leo Messi walked past the golden trophy while going to collect his Golden Ball award. He stopped. He looked at it like a man seeing a long-lost love. Then, he leaned in for that first, iconic kiss.
Honestly, it looked more like a sigh of relief than a celebration.
Why the World Obsessed Over Messi Besando La Copa del Mundo
For years, the narrative was suffocating. People used the lack of a World Cup to beat Messi over the head in the "Greatest of All Time" debate. Maradona had one. Pele had three. Messi had... silver medals and heartbreak. When he finally got his lips on that 18-karat gold trophy, it wasn't just about winning a tournament. It was about silence. He silenced every critic who said he wasn't "Argentine enough" or that he couldn't lead.
The sheer aesthetics of the moment mattered too. FIFA's photographers, specifically guys like Getty Images' Shaun Botterill, captured the lighting perfectly. The way the gold reflected off his face—it was cinematic. It looked staged, but it was raw.
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You’ve got to realize how close we came to never seeing this. If Kolo Muani’s shot in the 123rd minute goes an inch to the left, or if Emi Martínez doesn't have the wingspan of a condor, Messi is walking past that trophy with his head down. Again. The margins in football are stupidly thin. That’s why that kiss felt so heavy. It was the culmination of five attempts, thousands of minutes of play, and a brief retirement in 2016 when he thought the dream was dead.
The Symbolic Weight of the Bisht
Then came the second kiss—the one everyone argues about.
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, placed the bisht over Messi’s shoulders. It's a traditional Arab cloak worn by royalty and status figures. Some Western commentators hated it. They said it "ruined" the jersey shot. But in Argentina? They didn't care if he was wearing a space suit. All that mattered was the captain holding the weight of a nation. When he lifted the trophy while wearing that sheer black fabric, he looked like a king being coronated.
It was the final boss level of football.
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The Viral Impact: Breaking the Internet (Literally)
We talk about "viral," but this was different. The photo Messi posted on Instagram—the carousel featuring him holding and kissing the trophy—became the most-liked post in the history of the platform. It surpassed a literal egg. Think about that. A human moment of sporting excellence defeated a random internet meme.
- 75 million likes.
- Millions of shares.
- Infinite memes.
It wasn't just Argentines clicking "like." It was fans in Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, and even Brazil. There was a global sense that "football owed Messi a World Cup." Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, the data shows the world wanted to see Messi besando la copa del mundo more than they wanted to see their own teams win, in some weird, empathetic way.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2022 Final
A lot of casual fans think Argentina cruised. They didn't. They blew a 2-0 lead. Then they blew a 3-2 lead in extra time. Messi was actually quite stationary for parts of the match, but his efficiency was terrifying. He scored the opener, he started the move for the second, and he poked home the third.
The image of him kissing the cup hides the absolute carnage of the 120 minutes that preceded it. It was the most stressful game of his life. You could see it in his face during the trophy ceremony. He looked aged. He looked like he’d survived a war.
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People also forget that Messi had already "kissed" the trophy in his mind back in 2014. There’s a heartbreaking photo from the Brazil World Cup where he’s staring at the trophy as he walks past it after losing to Germany. He’s looking at it with this hollow expression. Comparing those two photos—2014 versus 2022—is basically a masterclass in human persistence.
The Aftermath: From Qatar to Miami
Since that moment, Messi’s vibe has changed. He’s completed the game. Moving to Inter Miami wasn't about proving anything; it was a victory lap. When you see him now, he’s smiling. He’s relaxed. That weight that lived on his shoulders since he was a teenager in Barcelona? It evaporated the second his lips touched the gold in Lusail.
He even slept with the trophy. He posted photos of himself in bed with the World Cup, tucked under the covers. It’s hilarious because it shows that even a guy with seven (now eight) Ballons d'Or still turns into a little kid when he achieves his biggest dream.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to commemorate this moment or understand its lasting legacy, here’s how to engage with the history of Messi besando la copa del mundo properly:
- Verify your memorabilia. If you’re buying "signed" photos of the kiss, ensure they have PSA/DNA or Beckett certification. The market is flooded with fakes because of the high demand.
- Watch the "Alta En El Cielo" documentary. It’s a short film that really captures the raw emotion of the players during that homecoming. It gives context to why that trophy meant more than just a piece of hardware.
- Study the 12th-minute goal build-up. If you want to understand Messi's genius, don't just look at the kiss. Look at the flick he made to Mac Allister in the second goal. That's the technical skill that earned him the right to kiss the cup.
- Visit the AFA Museum. If you’re ever in Buenos Aires, the artifacts from this final are essentially religious relics now.
The image of Messi besando la copa del mundo is the definitive sports photograph of the 21st century. It represents the end of the "Greatest of All Time" debate for many, but more importantly, it represents the reward for not giving up after four failed attempts. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the fairy tale ending actually happens in real life, even if it takes until the very last minute of the very last game.
To truly appreciate the gravity of the 2022 win, one should re-watch the final ten minutes of the match alongside the trophy presentation. The contrast between the chaotic, heart-stopping stress of Mbappe’s hat-trick and the serene, golden glow of the ceremony provides the full narrative arc of Messi’s career. Every drop of sweat was worth the golden contact.