Messi: New Angles Show How Kolo Muani, Mbappe Could Have Denied Argentina World Cup Glory

• Lionel Messi will always cherish December 18 as the date he 'completed' football in Qatar
• The veteran's Argentina beat Kylian Mbappe's France in a nervy final at the Lusail Stadium
• The story would have been different had Randal Kolo Muani gotten the better of Emi Martinez

Lionel Messi is probably basking on a beach in Miami or enjoying some downtime in Rosario as he continues his offseason holiday.

It has been one year since he 'completed' football in the most fairytale run ever, quit European football, moved to a 'quieter' league, and won a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or.

Saying his twilight years have been perfect looks like a gross understatement at this point.

But it could have been worse had one Randal Kolo Muani exercised some level of composure at the Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022.

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Randal Kolo Muani vs Emi Martinez

It is three minutes into the stoppage time of extra time of the World Cup final - an evenly poised encounter between Argentina and France at three goals apiece. Lionel Scaloni is scratching his head at how he allowed the game to get to this point. The French corner is singing Kylian Mbappe's praises while Messi is staring at the possibility of another World Cup final loss.

A long ball is floated over the Argentine defence and finds Kolo Muani in a one-on-one position with Emi Martinez. Nicolas Otamendi and Christian Romero have been beaten. The French bench is on their feet, ready to storm the pitch. If Kolo Muani can squeeze it past Martinez, then Les Bleus could become the first nation since Brazil to retain the World Cup trophy.

But Martinez pulls one of the most outstanding goalkeeper saves you will ever see in football. The Aston Villa keeper parries the shot away as Romero clears it further from danger. Kolo Muani can't believe it.

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That's the story of how Messi and Argentina almost lost the World Cup final.

It gets interesting. One year after the debacle in Qatar, L'Equipe have compiled a 3D analysis of all the options the then-Eintracht Frankfurt striker had.

Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup final

Get this. As it turns out, Mbappe was in space on Muani's left and initial images show that he was onside, given that he was in front of the last defender. All Muani needed to do was play the ball behind him and leave the Paris Saint-Germain striker with the easiest of tap-ins.

Scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final despite losing earned Mbappe the plaudits he deserved and a first-ever Ballon d'Or podium finish. Imagine scoring four and winning it all for your country.

"We were very close to bringing back the third World Cup. I'm not going to lie, I hate it," said Muani a few months later, as quoted by Marca.

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Martinez would then proceed to use unorthodox tactics to win the penalty shootout for Albiceleste. As Gonzalo Montiel's final shot nestled past Hugo Lloris, Messi went on his knees, possibly unable to move as the weight of his new status as World Champion sunk in. He won it all.

One year later, the question remains: what if Muani did this or that? Just what if?

Messi's six moments in Qatar

Sports Brief previously reported on Messi's six unforgettable World Cup moments as revealed by the ex-Barcelona player in celebration of the triumph's six-month anniversary.

The 36-year-old recapped some of the best moments in Qatar, which include his incredible assist for Nahuel Molina against the Netherlands and his opening goal against Mexico.