I ONCE ASKED LEGENDARY British commentator Martin Tyler to explain what makes a soccer player a global hero. 'Football, he said, 'is a simple game in which any player has three decisions to choose from when they take possession of the ball. Should I pass, run, or shoot?' He paused theatrically. The greatest players make better decisions than the merely good ones most of the time?
There's no greater stage on which Tyler's theory can play out than the World Cup, the 2022 edition, which kicked off on 20 November. It's the world's greatest blockbuster franchise played out live, with a projected cumulative audience of five billion. A crucible of pressure where the mantle of greatness can be assumed in a heartbeat. One exclamation point goal can forge a generation of memories, and the choreography of feints, flicks and flamboyance will be mimicked by millions of kids on dusty schoolyards across the world. The 2022 World Cup is guaranteed to be a singular experience, for reasons both commendable and skulduggerous. It's the first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East, held in Qatar, a tiny, natural-gas-rich petrostate located on a finger of desert in the Persian Gulf that won the hosting duties corruptly, despite having never previously qualified for the tournament. With summer temperatures in the desert hovering at 106°C, organisers at FIFA were forced to shift the competition from July to November, seeking cooler climes and disrupting the rhythm of the club calendar in the process.
On the field, this is certainly the tournament where the curtain falls on the international careers of two of the most dominant players of all time: Cristiano Ronaldo, the 37-year-old Portuguese bottle of Drakkar Noir in human form, and his archrival, 35-year-old Lionel Messi, the diminutive Argentine with the imagination of a peerless poet-warrior.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2022 - January 2023-Ausgabe von GQ South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2022 - January 2023-Ausgabe von GQ South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND THE CAMERA
A creative director, a filmmaker and a video director - three Ghanaian visionaries share their unique approach to fashion and visual storytelling
Body Odours You Shouldn't Ignore
A little whiff of sweat or muskiness may not be cause for concern, but some smells can signal a health concern that are worth taking a bit more seriously
THE MOST CONSISTENT IN THE GAME
K.O's greatest strength is his adaptability in the evolving music industry while staying true to his roots. From his days as a member of Teargas to solo hits like \"Caracara\" and \"Sete,\" he proves that he is always one step ahead
POWER & PASSION
Off the field and comfortable with SA rugby's MVPs, Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe
GUNNING FOR GLORY!
BURNING UP THE GLOBAL STAGE, BLXCKIE HAS A THING OR TWO TO SHOW US ABOUT SUCCESS
Final Edition
From 2025, Jaguar will go fully electric. To say farewell to their internal combustion felines, our motoring editor Dieter Losskarn joined the megabrand in taking their latest F-Type sportscar on one last lap
WRITING THEIR NEXT CHAPTERS OF SUCCESS TOGETHER
The collaboration between Bisquit and Dubouché and Kwesta is kicking into gear with an initiative to drive a new wave of pioneering spirits
Exceeding all the Hype
Group managing director at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa, Michael Kewley injected charm and artistry into the space, elevating its status of luxury
Grand Cruiser
Our motoring editor Dieter Losskarn was pleasantly surprised by how much he liked the new Prado. In fact, it is one of the best SUV/4x4 vehicles he's driven in a long time. Here's why...
Why Does Everyone Have Big, Fake White Teeth Now?
Veneers were once a dirty secret. Now, they're a luxury status symbol and the famous and wealthy are flocking to Hollywood's favorite dentist in search of even more perfect smiles