Weekend Review: Magical Messi matches Maradona with World Cup glory

In a World Cup like no other, came a final like no other. Lionel Messi emulated his hero Diego Maradona after dragging Argentina to glory and cementing his place as the greatest player of all time. And while fans danced on the streets of Buenos Aires, the trading floors grimaced.

Roaring into a 2-0 lead thanks to Messi and Angel Di Maria, Argentina were forced into extra time by Kylian Mbappe, determined to make his mark in Qatar. Messi looked to have won it again after the scrappiest of finishes made it 3-2 before Mbappe joined Sir Geoff Hurst in becoming the only other player to score a hattrick in the final from the penalty spot.

And then to penalties, with the erratic Emiliano Martinez saving from Kingsley Coman and vexing Aurélien Tchouaméni to drag wide. Substitute Gonzalo Montiel stepped up to win the game and usher in the tears and triumph.

Lionel Messi draped in #FIFAWorldCup immortality 💫🏆 pic.twitter.com/WBx4jUIUQ7

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 19, 2022

Over in Stoke-on-Trent at bet365, the script couldn’t have played out any worse, Steve Freeth tells EGR.

Freeth said: “The mercurial Messi looked to have put Argentina well on their way to lifting the World Cup, and when Angel Di Maria made it two, we paid out on Argentina to win in 90 minutes with our 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout offer.

“Argentina had cost us a few quid by losing a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands, and they cost us even more by throwing away another one on the biggest stage of them all.

“Mbappe’s quick-fire double ensured that Argentina failed to win in 90 minutes and also completed the Mbappe/Messi Shot on Target Super Boost (4/6 – 6/4) meaning we’d paid out an eight-figure sum, and the game was still on,” he added.

There was no respite in extra time for the bookie, as more Messi and Mbappe magic took its toll.

Freeth continued: “The payouts didn’t stop there. We also have an Extra Time Extra Chance offer (pre-match on selected markets) where you get your bet paid out as a winner in bet credits if it loses in normal time but goes on to win in extra time.

“Step forward 15/2 Messi to score two or more and an Mbappe hattrick at 66/1 in a concession that also includes bet builders.”

Lionel Messi has done it. He's completed football 🐐 pic.twitter.com/WpUoiQaQTE

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 18, 2022

Betfred’s Alan Firkins noted a draw in 90 minutes was somewhat of a saviour for his firm.

Firkins said: “Probably the most dramatic final in living memory and it only really caught fire in the 80th minute. A 90-minute draw is rarely a bad result, but many cashed in given that Messi and Mbappe both netted.

“Customers seemed to really enjoy it, turnover was great, and for the sentimentally minded, seeing that diminutive wizard holding the World Cup aloft just seemed right somehow.”

Elsewhere, City Bet Club co-founder David Brown revealed early chatter points to this World Cup’s turnover being down compared to Russia 2018.

Brown said: “In reflecting on this year’s World Cup and taking my personal industry experience of every tournament since Argentina 1978 into account, this is by far the most bookie-friendly competition in terms of results that I’ve ever known.

“I’m also picking up whispers from around the industry that like-for-like turnover is down significantly on Russia 2018 levels. Now, part of this could be down to the results and timing, but it is also likely to be an effect of the compliance hoops both bookmakers and punters must go through now,” he added.

Nous reviendrons. 🇫🇷🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Ni2WhO6Tgd

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 19, 2022

The group stages were full of shocks, including Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia 2-1 in their opening game, which lengthened the South American team’s outright odds to 9/1 from 11/2.

Bet365’s Freeth did note some joy in Messi failing to secure the Golden Boot, after Mbappe’s hattrick took him to eight goals for the competition, ahead of his PSG teammate on seven.

Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland noted the World Cup has added around $125m to underlying UK betting revenue and is likely to have handed a five to 10% revenue boost in emerging markets.

Leyland said: “FIFA [believed] more than 1.5 billion people watched the final, or around 20% of the global population; up 34% on 2018. For bookmakers, a record number of goalless draws, the final being a draw and some big teams being knocked out early will have been very positive. We believe that this has led to a c.$3bn global online betting revenue tournament.”