From Lionel Messi's aggression against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals to Neymar's ordeal, through Cristiano Ronaldo's "dedication" and FIFA president Gianni Infantino's response to critics of the host Qatar: a look back at the most striking phrases from the 2022 World Cup ahead of the final set for Sunday at Lusail Stadium.
"What we did was difficult because every match was a final. We played five finals and won five. We hope it will be the same in the next match" - Argentina's star and captain Lionel Messi after qualifying for the final.
"We must be ready and fully aware of the opportunity ahead of us to write history" - France midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni after qualifying for the final.
"What are you looking at, you fool? Go away, you fool. Get lost!" (¿Qué miras, bobo? ... ¡Anda para allá, bobo!) - Argentina's star and captain Lionel Messi directed at Dutch striker Wout Weghorst after the heated encounter between the teams in the quarter-finals.
"Africa is working, the Arab world is working. We are making our people, the African continent, and the Arab world happy. When you look at the movie Rocky, you support him because he is the one who comes from the bottom and climbs the stairs to the top. We are somewhat like Rocky in this World Cup" - Morocco's coach Walid Regragui after the historic qualification to the semi-finals.
"I’m psychologically devastated. The loss is definitely the most painful for me; it left me paralyzed for 10 minutes after the match. Then I broke down in tears and couldn't stop. This will leave me in pain for a very long time" - Brazil star Neymar after the elimination in the quarter-finals by Croatia.
"I just want everyone to know that a lot has been said, a lot has been written, and there have been many speculations, but my commitment to Portugal has not changed for a moment. I have always been an extra player fighting for everyone's goals, and I will never turn my back on my teammates and my country" - Portugal star and captain Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram after the elimination by Morocco in the quarter-finals.
"Passing to them is definitely safer than putting your money in the bank" - Croatia defender Josip Juranović about the midfield trio Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Marcelo Brozović.
"In my opinion, the better team lost tonight" - England midfielder Declan Rice after the loss to France in the quarter-finals.
"I watched the semi-final teams and I don't see any of them better than Spain" - Luis Enrique, who was dismissed from his position after the exit in the Round of 16 against Morocco, on Twitch.
"Chris knows it well, and the coach said it very clearly; the most important thing here is us" - Portugal defender Pepe about keeping Cristiano Ronaldo out of the starting lineup against Switzerland in the Round of 16.
"He (Pelé) is not in danger; he is receiving treatment... We are tired of receiving condolences" - Flavia Arantes, daughter of Brazil legend Pelé, on Brazilian TV channel TV Globo regarding the health status of the three-time world champion.
"To go out this way feels like a horror movie" - Germany striker Kai Havertz after exiting the group stage despite winning 4-2 against Costa Rica, due to the surprise achieved by Japan against Spain (2-1).
"My mother was lying in her coffin with rosary beads when she died. It’s a matter of genetics" - Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal regarding his always-tanned skin.
"We don’t create much up front; almost nothing, in fact. Our attacking side might be poor because the men (forwards) are older" - Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen sarcastically talking about his team's attacking infertility after the loss to Morocco in the group stage.
"Messi on the pitch is like Alberto Tomba on the slopes; he can avoid everyone just like Tomba could turn around everything" - Poland coach Czesław Michniewicz comparing Lionel Messi to the former Italian skiing legend.
"Take your phone! You can take a selfie with him (Lionel Messi) if you want!" - Saudi Arabia's French coach Hervé Renard during halftime in the match against Argentina in the group stage (2-1).
"You can't even imagine what these young men have gone through behind the scenes in the past few days, just because they want to express themselves as football players. Whatever they say, people want to kill them" - Portugal's coach for Iran, Carlos Queiroz, after the opening loss to England 2-6 regarding the pressure on his players due to the protest movement in the country.
"I prefer to stay in my frame, the frame of the player" - France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris regarding his decision not to wear the "One Love" armband supporting the LGBTQ+ community, which was banned by FIFA.
"Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, today I feel like a migrant worker" - FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a press conference on the eve of the opening of the World Cup in response to criticism directed at the host Qatar regarding human rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
