Kylian Mbappé spoke about the 2022 World Cup final and how Argentina were better and deserved to win the game.
Mbappé scored a hat trick for France in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina. Considered by many to be one of the best, if not the best World Cup final of all time, the match ended in a 3-3 draw with the Argentina national team winning the World Cup on penalty kicks.
Argentina took a 2-0 lead before France scored twice in a span of two minutes. After that, Lionel Messi scored in extra time and Kylian Mbappé scored his third goal in extra time. Speaking in an interview on Movistar Plus +, here is what he had to say about the World Cup final:
“You don’t think about scoring in a final, you think about winning it. It was a crazy game that Argentina deserved to win; they were better throughout the match.
“We had a moment when we were better, but if you look at it as a whole, it’s deserved. It makes you sad, but we mustn’t forget it, because 2026 is coming and we don’t want to end up sad again.
“Argentina deserved to win, they were better throughout the game.”
When you think of football in India, it’s easy to picture the passionate fan bases that support European and South American clubs and national teams with unmatched intensity. But behind that enthusiasm, there’s a publication that has become a bridge between India’s growing football culture and the global game: Viva Football Magazine.
Founded in 2016 by Ashish Pendse, a former national footballer and veteran journalist, Viva Football stands today as India’s only football magazine in print format—a remarkable achievement in an increasingly digital world.
“I am from India, near Mumbai, the financial capital,” Pendse began. “I was a national footballer myself, and later worked for the Indian Express Group and Times of India Group, the two largest media houses in India, for more than 20 years.”
After decades of writing about football and sports, Pendse and two colleagues—Dr. Vishwajit Kadam, Vice President of the Western India Football Association, and Mandar Tamane, CEO of NorthEast United FC—decided to create something unique.
“Whenever we used to travel to Europe or the U.S., we brought back football magazines from the Western world,” Pendse explained. “We felt it was time India had its own. So we started Viva Football Magazine in 2016 to cater to Indian football while also bringing world football to Indian fans.”
Photo courtesy of Viva Football Magazine.
Reaching schools and grassroots players
While most media outlets chase clicks and online traffic, Viva Football has a very different mission: to reach schools, kids, and libraries.
“Our primary intention is to reach out to the schools, because we believe they are the future of sports culture,” said Pendse. “If you start nurturing them at age 10, 12, or 15—just like we do in grassroots football—their interest grows through Viva Football Magazine.”
The magazine partners with schools, academies, and clubs across India and serves as the official magazine partner of the Subroto Cup, the country’s largest inter-school football championship, which features around 20,000 schools nationwide.
“We also network with all the football fan bases in India—fans of European, Latin, and global clubs,” he added. “That’s how we reach out to football lovers all over the country.”
Photo courtesy of Viva Football Magazine.
Football’s growing popularity in India
Despite cricket’s dominance, Pendse believes football’s rise in India is undeniable.
“Football is comfortably number two in India,” he said. “In fact, it’s the fastest-growing sport here. Among school kids and young adults, the passion is huge. Football is also the number one sport in broadcasting and revenue generation after cricket.”
Beyond coverage, Viva Football offers fans something few outlets do—a platform to express themselves.
“We give fans a space to write their own stories and articles,” Pendse noted. “Fan clubs, sports management students, even school kids write for Viva Football. It’s a fan-dedicated media platform.”
“India is a huge country,” he said. “But football is one thing that unites us all.”
Photo courtesy of Viva Football Magazine.
The “Football Pilgrimage”
One of Viva Football’s most inspiring initiatives is the Football Pilgrimage—a travel program that takes Indian football students and fans to major tournaments and stadiums around the world.
“For us, football stadiums are like pilgrimage sites,” Pendse said. “We started this in 2018 through a collaboration with the World Football Summit. I thought, as journalists we get to travel and experience everything—why not pass that on to the younger generation?”
Since then, he has taken over 40 sports management students abroad to attend conferences, watch matches, visit museums, and even train at coaching camps.
“We’ve gone to La Liga, Premier League, Champions League, FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup—you name it,” Pendse said. “It’s an immersive experience. We meet players, visit stadiums, and watch the games live.”
Even during the pandemic, they managed to travel safely. “In 2021, we got a small window between lockdowns,” he recalled. “We traveled with all the required tests and vaccinations. Nothing could stop our football pilgrimage.”
Photo courtesy of Viva Football Magazine.
A community effort
Behind Viva Football is a large, passionate team.
“We have three divisions: editorial, artistic, and networking,” Pendse explained. “The editorial team handles the writing and editing; the artists take care of design and layout—it has to be attractive; and the networking team ensures distribution to schools, libraries, and fan bases.”
But the magazine’s reach goes even further.
“Through Viva Football, we now have a network of more than 525 academies,” Pendse revealed. “Fan club members and sports management students act as our representatives across Indian cities. I believe the entire football community is my team—they all contribute enthusiastically.”
Photo courtesy of Viva Football Magazine.
Going digital while keeping print alive
While its heart lies in print, Viva Football is also active online.
“During COVID, we launched a YouTube channel called the Viva Football Show,” Pendse said. “We are now relaunching it for the next World Cup.”
From glossy pages featuring young players alongside Messi and Ronaldo, to global tours that turn dreams into reality, Viva Football Magazine stands as a testament to India’s growing football identity.
As Pendse summed it up best:
“When kids see their photo next to Messi’s, it gives them pride. That’s what Viva Football is all about—building a football culture, one fan at a time.”
To stay updated on all their latest news, football pilgrimages, and fan events, you can follow Viva Football Magazine on Instagram @vivafootballmagazine, on Facebook at Viva Football Magazine, and visit their website to explore more inspiring stories from India’s football community.
According to reports from Spanish outlet Marca, the highly anticipated Finalissima between Argentina and Spain could take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar — the same venue where Argentina won the 2022 World Cup after defeating France on penalties. However, the match has not yet been officially confirmed by either federation.
The game would mark a special return for Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste to the site of their greatest triumph. Argentina, current world and Copa América champions, is already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, while Spain continues its qualification campaign after defeating Georgia this weekend.
In recent months, several venues were considered for the Finalissima — including Miami (United States), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Montevideo (Uruguay). Still, reports in Spain indicate that Doha’s Lusail Stadium has emerged as the frontrunner to host the clash between the champions of America and Europe, just months before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
According to reports by TyC Sports, the Argentina National Team’s planned tour for November might undergo changes. The first friendly will be against Angola in Africa, while the second match — originally scheduled to be played in India — could also be moved to the African continent. Morocco is being considered as a possible opponent, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
This possible change would come as disappointing news for Argentina’s large fan base in India, considered one of the biggest outside of Argentina. Supporters across the country had been looking forward to seeing the world champions in action, and while the decision is not final, it would be a major setback for fans who had been preparing to welcome the team.
Lionel Messi made MLS goal scoring history with Inter Miami.
Messi started for Inter Miami and scored two goals in their 4-0 win against Atlanta United. With his two goals, the Argentine became the first MLS player in history to produce 9 multi-goal matches in a regular season.
He had two goals against Montreal, two goals against Columbus, two against Montreal, two against New England, two goals against Nashville, two goals against New York, two against D.C. United, two against New York City and two against Atlanta United.
