The tournament served as a career capstone for Lionel Messi, who won his second Golden Ball and finally secured the one major trophy that had eluded him. Economic and Global Impact
Morocco became the first African and first Arab nation to reach the semi-finals, captivating global audiences by defeating European giants Spain and Portugal.
The knockout stage, held from December 3 to December 18, 2022, featured the top 16 teams in a "winner-takes-all" format. Key highlights of this phase included:
Beyond the pitch, the tournament had a profound effect on the host nation and the global community: