World Cup Highlights Football’s Greatest Stars and Underdog Stories Amid Personal Loss

The author reflects on the current World Cup experience, contrasting it with the previous tournament where Lionel Messi was a personal source of hope. This year, plans to meet Messi in person were halted by a sudden family tragedy, casting a shadow over the event and making it difficult to celebrate. Instead, the author finds solace in the small, beautiful moments captured during the tournament.

Photographer Oz Moalem’s images, commissioned by the newspaper, vividly portray these moments, emphasizing that football is secondary to the human stories unfolding at the World Cup. The author notes a common fascination with Cinderella stories and giant upsets but personally admires the world’s top players who have worked their entire lives to shine on football’s biggest stage.

Unlike the previous World Cup, where the author was anxious about Messi and disappointed by early exits of stars like Ronaldo and Neymar, this tournament sees the expected leading scorers, Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Vinícius Jr., performing strongly. The author celebrates their success as a testament to their lifelong dedication.

At the same time, the tournament continues to deliver surprises, such as Cape Verde’s unexpected deep run, reminding fans that football remains a game where underdogs can defy expectations and earn global applause. Ultimately, the World Cup’s essence lies in letting football tell its story through stars and unknown teams alike.

The author hopes for continued health and victories for the players and that the beautiful moments of the World Cup and daily life will not fade away.