“We fulfilled the beauty of Qatar, with our hands, with my hands. But there is no happiness for us. None.” As the World Cup comes to a close, Greg Bishop tells the tales of those who built it—the migrant workers mired in debt, traumatized by death trib.al/vv6i4gB

As it turns out, their World Cup meeting four years ago wasn’t quite the passing of the torch it seemed to be. The rematch in the #FIFAWorldCup final is a loaded one for Messi, Mbappé and their respective national teams. @brianstraus sets the scene trib.al/gd23cAE

🇦🇷🔟🏆🔟🇫🇷 si.com/soccer/2022/12…

"Kylian Mbappé is now the flag carrier for his generation, for the banlieues and for a France still wrestling with old divisions. He embodies youthful potential, ambition and pride." @brianstraus on the World Cup and cover curse defier, who is acing his encore trib.al/CbLa9CG

If nothing has derailed France yet, then a flu-like virus and rumors about Karim Benzema's sensational return won't on the eve of the #FIFAWorldCup final. @brianstraus on a title match that goes well beyond just Messi and Mbappé trib.al/8XX1muQ

🇦🇷 THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE! 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi and Argentina are WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS! 🏆 trib.al/kc0by9d

Have zero rooting interest (except for not having copy for the final whistle trashed, and, well, THANKS) and my god this hit the feels so hard. Incredible, ANDRES CANTOR x.com/bubbaprog/stat…

Argentina is your new #FIFAWorldCup champion after a final that will go down in history. @avicreditor on Argentina’s triumph, Kylian Mbappé’s incredible heroics and the crowning achievement in Lionel Messi’s GOAT of a career trib.al/aAkaXcS

Messi and Mbappé better process this one quickly, they’ve got Strasbourg in 10 days x.com/si_soccer/stat…

"Seven goals, three assists and one trophy lift later, a strong case can be made that Messi has no peers, now or in any era." @brianstraus on Lionel Messi's iconic World Cup ending, Argentina's title and the sheer will to overcome trib.al/Sx3OBf1

🇦🇷 As Argentina celebrates its #FIFAWorldCup title, another salute to its champions 🇦🇷 @brianstraus on Lionel Messi and an ending fit for a 🐐 trib.al/VwPBr11 Jonathan Wilson on the supporting cast of unsung heroes who were instrumental trib.al/uaz8Nuc

The 2022 World Cup is done, and its successor is going to look markedly different. @avicreditor on the stars and favorites for 2026, the outlooks for the three co-hosts and what's still left to be determined before North America takes center stage trib.al/xQGjJpq

Beautifully done, Michael Lewis x.com/ussoccer/statu…

An elite talent with a clear future in and around the NBA … writing a masterpiece of a mag cover story on Victor Wembanyama. Way to go out on a high note, Jeremy Woo

My man didn’t even wait, like, two hours to unveil it. Couldn’t even get home from a flight in time to watch before having it ruined. Unforgivable. A 12 on this scale

The only 🐐 here is you my man. No writer is more purposeful, thoughtful, no person more fulfilling to work with. Brian deserves the best

🐐 🎯 #Messi

Almost the best goal #Messi has on Brad Guzan