Messi and Argentina crowned champions after a breathtaking final
Lionel Messi’s Argentina have won the 2022 World Cup on penalties after a final that will go down in footballing history. La Albiceleste can now add a third star to their crest thanks to Messi’s brace, whilst Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick for France.
We were expecting an epic final, and we got one in Lusail as Lionel Messi and Argentina won the World Cup against Kylian Mbappé and France with the two Parisians playing a starring role.
The Argentines seized the initiative through their captain as Leo Messi scored a penalty awarded for an Ousmane Dembélé foul on Angel Di Maria to move to the top of the tournament scoring chart (1-0, 23').
Angel Di Maria then doubled the lead (2-0, 36') before Mbappé scored a penalty of his own - won by Randal Kolo Muani - to get France back in the game late on (2-1, 80').
Two minutes later, thanks to a wonderful scissor kick volley, Mbappé then took the game into extra-time (2-2, 82').
The tension was unbearable, and both sets of fans were suffering. In the second period of extra-time, Messi fired viciously at goal, and though Hugo Lloris and Jules Koundé looked to have cleared it, the ball crossed the line (3-2, 108').
The madness wasn't finished yet though as Mbappé fired home another penalty - this time awarded for handball - to take the game to a shoot-out (3-3, 118'). Kylian Mbappé ended as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals.
The two Parisian stars scored their spot-kicks, but Emiliano Martinez was the hero, the Argentina goalkeeper keeping out Kingsley Coman notably to take his country and Messi to the summit of world football and bring a fitting end to a World Cup that will live long in the memory.
ARGENTINA 3-3 FRANCE (4-2 on pens)
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final
Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Goals: Messi (23' pen, 108') and Di María (36') for Argentina; Mbappé (80' pen, 82', 118' pen) for France.
ARGENTINA: Martínez - Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico (Dybala, 120'+1), Molina (Montiel, 90') - Fernández, Di María (Acuña, 64'), Mac Allister (Pezzella, 116'), De Paul (Paredes, 102') - Álvarez (La. Martínez, 103'), Messi. Head coach: L. Scaloni
FRANCE: Lloris (c) - Koundé (Disasi, 120'+1), Varane (Konaté, 113'), Upamecano, T. Hernandez (Camavinga, 71') - Griezmann (Coman, 71'), Tchouaméni, Rabiot (Fofana, 96') - Dembélé (Kolo Muani, 41'), Giroud (Thuram, 41'), Mbappé. Head coach: D. Deschamps