End of GOAT debate: ISL players laud Argentina and Lionel Messi after FIFA World Cup 2022 triumph

Capturing the imagination of millions, or rather, billions of footballing fanatics across the globe, Lionel Messi, draped in a glistening Argentine kit, completed football and even every side mission the beautiful game had on offer on Sunday night (December 18). Putting an end to 36 years of wait, the diminutive Argentine led La Albiceleste to the coveted FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy.

Three goals from Argentina, including two from Messi, weren't enough to edge past defending champions France in 120 minutes of arguably the most frantic World Cup final the world has witnessed.

In the opposite corner, a 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe, someone who had already tasted divine glory four years back, kept punching back with a hat-trick.

As the game rolled into the dreaded penalty shootout, it was calling for a hero. For Argentina, it arrived. In the shape of Emiliano Martínez. With his antics and saves. the Aston Villa custodian carried them over the line as Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman failed to convert their chances for the Les Blues.

Gonzalo Montiel gleefully took the deciding penalty to win the much-desired trophy for Argentina and for Messi. As fireworks went off in Lusail, in Buenos Aires, and in the great man's hometown of Rosario, the superstars of the Indian Super League (ISL) also joined in the celebrations.

Sunil Chhetri - India's brightest footballing jewel and the individual who has been giving Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo a run for their money when it comes to the international goals tally - hailed the summit clash as the greatest game of football he has ever watched.

Other Indian footballers, including Sahal Abdul Samad and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, joined the conversation on social media.

This is the best game of football I've ever watched. Every emotion displayed and felt for 120 minutes and then through every take from the spot. What a show. What a sport. Lionel Messi 💙🤍

This man ❤️,This team 💪 https://t.co/xOVOGRKE6t

BEST. SPORT. IN. THE. WORLD. #FIFAWorldCup

Meanwhile, ISL's very own Argentine, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, celebrated his country lifting the World Cup trophy in quite a fashion.

Scenes from #TheIslanders camp ft. @PereyraDiazz and family! 🇦🇷💙

Enjoy the night!

#FIFAWorldCup #ArgentinaVsFrance #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 https://t.co/PeAMoQKsBm

What a final to watch 🫶🏻 Well deserved win for Argentina and Lionel Messi. La Albiceleste are Champions of the World Football after 36 years💙🤍

A huge respect for France and Mbappe for not giving up till the final whistle 🙌🏻

#WorldCupFinal #ArgentinaChampions #LionelMessi

Messi Messi Messi 🫡🔝🙏🏻
#GOAT𓃵 #FIFAWorldCup

Congratulations Argentina and Lionel Messi for winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 💙🤍

Well played France and Mbappe 👏🏻 This was the best World Cup Final that I have watched 💥

#argentinachampions #worldcupfinal #lionelmessi

This is the best game of football I've ever watched. Every emotion displayed and felt for 120 minutes and then through every take from the spot. What a show. What a sport. Lionel Messi 💙🤍

#Qatar2022 #WorldCup #Messi #ArgentinaVsFrance #WorldcupQatar2022 https://t.co/jvyM76MznW

Messi & Mbappe did what every footballer dreams of. Some emotions to connect there. For now let’s all enjoy the moment. #WorldCupFinals #WorldCup2022 #ARGFRA #GOAT𓃵 #ARG #FRA

My favorite and predicted winner, Argentina wins the World Cup after 36 years 💙 What a thrilling World Cup final we have witnessed tonight 💥

Lionel Messi, you deserve it 💙🤍

#WorldCupFinal #ArgentinaChampions #LionelMessi https://t.co/gOT1cp73xA

Cristiano Ronaldo fan Michael Soosairaj extends his respect to Lionel Messi after the World Cup victory

The debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is endless. Thoughts are free and people believe what they wish to. But Odisha FC's Michael Soosairaj, who is a fan of Messi's arch-rival, extended his respect to the Argentine magician.

As a Christiano fan I hate him but as a footballer I love him boz we know that he is a magician. https://t.co/RPKHLLoDkl

However, for Soosairaj's teammate Narender Gahlot, the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) debate is "forever" over. With Messi clinching the greatest trophy in football, which eluded him for over a decade, Gahlot believes no other words are needed to cement Messi's immortal greatness.

End of debate forever now, he is definitely #GOAT𓃵 Need no more words now!!!! What a game, what a win🫶🏻❤️🪄 VAMOOSSSSS ARGENTINA #Messi𓃵 #WorldCupFinal #FIFAWorldCup #GOAT𓃵 #ArgentinaVsFrance #ARG

While his fans for years have partaken in heated debates surrounding his greatness, Messi has been on a unique journey enveloped with emotions of every wavelength.

The 35-year-old never desired his illustrious career to overshadow his compatriots or his predecessors.

All the Rosario-born ever dreamed of was being the silver lining that made even the gloomy skies a poetic afterimage.