Lionel Messi inked his name in the pantheon of all-time soccer greats by lifting his first World Cup trophy. Argentina gave up a 2-0 lead late in the match but took home a victory over France on penalties at the 2022 World Cup final.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty while Aurelien Tchouameni sent his attempt wide of the net. Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty to clinch Argentina’s third World Cup.
Argentina sat comfortably in the driver’s seat with a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. Messi completed the brace in extra time.
Kylian Mbappe took France on his shoulders with a hat trick. The striker scored a brace late in the match to level the score at 2-2 and completed the hat trick in extra time to force a penalty shootout.
On his record-breaking 26th World Cup appearance, Messi broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Ousmane Dembele was called for a foul on Angel Di Maria inside the box.
Argentina doubled their lead by catching France off guard on a counter attack in the 36th minute. Messi found an open Di Maria who sent the French in the ropes with his
Mbappe brought France back to life with two goals in the span of two minutes.
France was awarded a penalty in the 79th minute when Nicholas Otamendi took down Kolo Muani inside the box. Mbappe’s spot kick was tipped by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martnitez but made its way in as France scored with their first shot of the final.
Shortly after, Mbappe brought France back in the final by levelling the score with a volley from inside the box.
French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a giant save late in stoppage time, denying Messi’s World Cup-clinching goal attempt from outside the box to send the match to extra time.
Messi found his second of the night in the 108th minute as he pounced on a Lloris rebound to restore Argentina’s lead.
Mbappe had another chance to tie the game when France were awarded a penalty in the 118th minute. The French superstar completed the hat trick from the spot.
Kolo Muani had the World Cup on the tip of his foot in the final moments of the match with a shot from point-blank range but Martinez’s late save sent the final to a penalty shootout.
Montiel scored the winning penalty to clinch Argentina’s third World Cup.
