Sports Hub

Qatar 2022 Earth Cup photograph exclusive – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and more

Qatar 2022 Earth Cup photograph exclusive – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and more


It was a truly incredible Planet Cup both on and off the discipline that culminated in Lionel Messi and Argentina’s fairytale victory more than France in a vintage final.

We witnessed the implosion of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy, Morocco’s magical operate to the semi-finals, Kylian Mbappe do almost everything humanly doable but gain the trophy, and failure for Germany, Brazil, Spain and others.

There was agony as soon as once again for England as Harry Kane skied his penalty in a heartbreaking exit to France.

But away from the football, there has under no circumstances been these kinds of a controversial World Cup as Qatar 2022. The fatalities of countless numbers of migrant personnel developing stadiums, the banning of armbands promoting LGBTQ+ legal rights, a very last-minute U-turn on providing beer and political protests in excess of Iran built for an unsettling backdrop. 

Sportsmail requires a seem back at the match with a range of some of the most evocative pictures. 

The moment of destiny for Lionel Messi as he completed his medal collection and capped a fairytale career by lifting the World Cup after Argentina's win over France in a vintage final

The instant of destiny for Lionel Messi as he finished his medal selection and capped a fairytale job by lifting the World Cup just after Argentina’s win over France in a vintage last

Argentina's third World Cup victory - and their first since 1986 - sparked wild scenes of celebration back in Buenos Aires

Argentina’s third World Cup victory – and their first considering that 1986 – sparked wild scenes of celebration back in Buenos Aires 

A deflated Kylian Mbappe reflects after a captivating World Cup final, where his own hat-trick exploits proved not enough

A deflated Kylian Mbappe displays immediately after a fascinating Entire world Cup remaining, in which his own hat-trick exploits proved not enough 

The night sky is illuminated by dozens of fireworks above the Doha Corniche as the hosts tried to put on a World Cup show

The evening sky is illuminated by dozens of fireworks higher than the Doha Corniche as the hosts attempted to put on a Environment Cup present

Jordan Henderson (left) and Jude Bellingham (right) formed a strong partnership on and off the pitch during England's run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They are pictured celebrating Henderson's goal from Bellingham's assist against Senegal

Jordan Henderson (left) and Jude Bellingham (suitable) fashioned a sturdy partnership on and off the pitch all through England’s operate to the quarter-finals of the Entire world Cup. They are pictured celebrating Henderson’s target from Bellingham’s assist in opposition to Senegal

Morocco were the story of the World Cup - led by coach Walid Regragui (top), they defied all odds to make the semi-finals

Morocco have been the tale of the Globe Cup – led by mentor Walid Regragui (major), they defied all odds to make the semi-finals

While Messi finally claimed his World Cup, there was only misery for his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped to the Portugal bench by coach Fernando Santos for the knockout rounds
No prizes for guessing who all these lenses were trained on

Though Messi finally claimed his World Cup, there was only distress for his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dropped to the Portugal bench by mentor Fernando Santos for the knockout rounds . No prizes for guessing who the emphasis of interest was

There was more misery once again for Germany, who bombed out after the group stages for the second straight World Cup

There was far more distress after once more for Germany, who bombed out after the team phases for the second straight Planet Cup

Some of the stadiums in Qatar did provide stunning backdrops, such as the Lusail Stadium at dusk here, but the slick running of the tournament came with a heavy human toll

Some of the stadiums in Qatar did offer amazing backdrops, this kind of as the Lusail Stadium at dusk in this article, but the slick operating of the event arrived with a major human toll

Thousands of migrant workers, mainly from the Asian subcontinent, died in extreme heat building stadia and infrastructure

1000’s of migrant staff, mostly from the Asian subcontinent, died in intense warmth making stadia and infrastructure 

There was a disaster for World Cup sponsors Budweiser on the eve of the tournament with beer banned inside stadiums

There was a catastrophe for Environment Cup sponsors Budweiser on the eve of the tournament with beer banned within stadiums

Brazil fell short once again, with Neymar and his team-mates stunned by Croatia in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals

Brazil fell quick after once more, with Neymar and his staff-mates stunned by Croatia in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals

Morocco eliminated Spain and then Portugal but reigning champions France proved a step too far for them in the semi-finals

Morocco eliminated Spain and then Portugal but reigning champions France proved a action far too significantly for them in the semi-finals

Argentina's player returned home in the early hours to find hundreds of thousands of fans waiting to celebrate with them

Argentina’s player returned property in the early hours to obtain hundreds of countless numbers of followers ready to rejoice with them

England's Harry Kane was successful with his first penalty in the quarter-final against France
But his second one late on cleared the crossbar and England went out

England captain Harry Kane was prosperous with his 1st penalty in the quarter-ultimate with France (still left) – but crucially he despatched his 2nd just one significant above the crossbar late on (ideal)

Goncalo Ramos was one of the breakout stars of the tournament - he replaced Ronaldo for Portugal's last-16 match with Switzerland and proceeded to score a hat-trick

Goncalo Ramos was one of the breakout stars of the event – he changed Ronaldo for Portugal’s previous-16 match with Switzerland and proceeded to score a hat-trick

Catch me if you can! Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is pursued by his team-mates after Brazil's Marquinhos rues his missed penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out

Capture me if you can! Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is pursued by his staff-mates immediately after Brazil’s Marquinhos rues his skipped penalty in the quarter-remaining shoot-out 

Pyrotechnics explode around a giant replica of the World Cup trophy ahead of the final between Argentina and France

Pyrotechnics explode around a large duplicate of the Environment Cup trophy in advance of the remaining among Argentina and France

The African teams can always be relied upon to add a splash of colour to any World Cup and these Senegal fans were no exception ahead of their group stage game with the Netherlands

The African groups can always be relied upon to include a splash of color to any Environment Cup and these Senegal fans were being no exception forward of their team stage recreation with the Netherlands

The tournament started with debate over the OneLove armband, which the captains of several European nations were planning to wear until FIFA pointed out they would receive a yellow card. The organisers then came up with their own version

The event commenced with debate more than the OneLove armband, which the captains of several European nations had been scheduling to have on until eventually FIFA pointed out they would obtain a yellow card. The organisers then arrived up with their own variation

The decision to ban the OneLove armband led to this covered mouth protest from the Germany team before their game

The selection to ban the OneLove armband led to this included mouth protest from the Germany group right before their recreation

FIFA president Gianni Infantino proved as slippery and evasive as ever when it came to matters of human rights in Qatar

FIFA president Gianni Infantino proved as slippery and evasive as at any time when it came to matters of human legal rights in Qatar

Iranian fans show their solidarity with women protesting for their rights in the country ahead of their game with England

Iranian admirers show their solidarity with gals protesting for their legal rights in the state in advance of their video game with England

Morgan Freeman played a cameo role in the opening ceremony - something the BBC decided not to screen on main coverage

Morgan Freeman played a cameo position in the opening ceremony – a little something the BBC made a decision not to screen on most important protection

Croatian model Ivana Knoll was an attraction at their matches
Her choice of outfits didn't always please the locals

Croatian product Ivana Knoll was an attraction at their matches – but her skimpy outfits failed to depart the locals far too pleased  

Wales went home after the group stage and it was their defeat to Iran that caused all the damage to their campaign

Wales went house right after the group stage and it was their defeat to Iran that brought on all the problems to their campaign 

United States international Sergino Dest reflects on their last-16 defeat to the Netherlands in a quiet moment of solitude

United States worldwide Sergino Dest reflects on their final-16 defeat to the Netherlands in a tranquil second of solitude

Spain remained some way short of their best as they were beaten on penalties by Morocco in the round of 16

Spain remained some way small of their greatest as they had been overwhelmed on penalties by Morocco in the round of 16 

There was tragedy among the press pack when esteemed American journalist Grant Wahl died while reporting on the match between Argentina and Netherlands in the quarter-finals

There was tragedy among the the press pack when esteemed American journalist Grant Wahl died even though reporting on the match among Argentina and Netherlands in the quarter-finals 

Two children in Argentina shirts play football beneath the fluttering flags in Doha as the world came to their town

Two youngsters in Argentina shirts engage in soccer beneath the fluttering flags in Doha as the globe came to their town 

A sliding doors moment in a classic final as the Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez keeps out a last-gasp shot from France player Randal Kolo Muani in the dying moments of extra time

A sliding doorways instant in a basic remaining as the Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez retains out a very last-gasp shot from France participant Randal Kolo Muani in the dying times of more time

Mbappe may have won the consolation of the Golden Boot for leading scorer but he walked past the main prize

Mbappe may perhaps have gained the consolation of the Golden Boot for major scorer but he walked previous the main prize 

Echoes of Diego Maradona in 1986 as Lionel Messi is lifted aloft, trophy in hand, by his victorious Argentina team-mates

Echoes of Diego Maradona in 1986 as Lionel Messi is lifted aloft, trophy in hand, by his victorious Argentina workforce-mates