– It was the best referee performance in the history of the World Cup. I’m so proud! – wrote Howard Webb in a private message to WP Sportowe Fakty journalist Piotr Koźmiński.

Together with Marciniak, his two assistants Tomasz Listkiewicz and Paweł Sokolnicki and the referee responsible for VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski took part in the final.

Simon was fantastic. But the whole team of referees deserved big applause, because, for example, the offside decisions in key moments, like the third goal, were excellent. It was a great performance by the Polish referees, and as for Szymon, I will underline it again, top! Webb added.

In the final, Marciniak took a record number of penalties for the match: the first for Argentina, the next two for France. They all turned out to be right.

– Marciniak brilliantly controlled the match. He “set up” the players in the first quarter of an hour – commented expert referee Michał Listkiewicz during the break on TVP Sport.

In total, the Polish referee showed eight yellow cards; five for the Argentinians, three for the French. – Respect and words of appreciation for our judges who did an exemplary job during the incredible World Cup final! World class – these are the words of the President of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza.

Marciniak turns 42 in January. Leading the World Cup final in this style is his greatest professional achievement. Maybe in the spring he will also get the Champions League final. So far in this competition, he has been able to whistle in the semi-finals and regularly in the group stage.

World Cup 2022 – rewarded players:

• The best player: Leo Messi
• Top scorer: Kylian Mbappé
• Best Young Footballer: Enzo Fernandez
• Best goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez