Argentina
won their third World Cup in an extraordinary final on Sunday, 18 December
2022, at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, as they
beat France 4-2 on penalties after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw and
Kylian Mbappe grabbed a hat-trick to bring the holders back from 2-0 and 3-2
down.
It was an incredible night of drama, high emotion and fluctuating
fortunes, delivering one of the all-time great finals to cap a wonderful tournament
as its two star players delivered command performances on the biggest stage of
all. The final match gave the taste of the tournament and the tournament gave
the State of Qatar more-than-soccer prestige and more-than-world cup glory.
One of the most
exciting World Cup finals of all time was won by Argentina against France at Lusail
Stadium, Qatar on Sunday. The Argentines were thrown into joyous mood all over
the country on Sunday after a dramatic
final that ended 3-3 in extra time resulted in 4 – 2 win on penalty kicks.
Argentina led 2 – 0 at the half thanks to goals from Angel Di Maria and Lionel
Messi. France scored twice in 90 seconds late in the game to stun Argentina and
tie the final.
Argentina has defeated France, the
returning champion, in a dramatic match that gives the South American country
its first title since 1986, and third title since 1978.
A part of
the story was France’s champion courage, the 2018 winners being revived by a
clutch of Didier Deschamps substitutions. That and Mbappé, who was unplayable
from the 80thminute. He scored twice in 97 seconds to force
extra-time; the first a penalty, the second a sublime side-on volley and there
was a point towards the end of regulation time when he appeared hell-bent on
making sure that the additional period would not be needed.
Back came
Argentina in extra-time, Messi scoring his second for 3-2. But back came
France, Mbappé equalising with a second penalty on 118 minutes for his
hat-trick and the Golden Boot. He finished the tournament with eight – one more
than Messi. He joined Sir Geoff Hurst as a hat-trick scorer in the men’s final.
Sunday's
final was a battle of wills as the competitors met each other shot for shot
well into extra time, until Argentina ended France's hope for a consecutive win
in penalty kicks. Argentina took an early lead, scoring two goals in the first
half. France was thoroughly outplayed and was consistently on the defensive but
rallied in the second half and in extra time.
Lionel
Messi, Argentina's captain, has taken his first World Cup title in what is
likely to be the 35-year-old's last appearance in the tournament. He solidified
an incredible legacy as fans debate whether Messi is the greatest player of all
time.But he met his match in Kylian Mbappé, France's young upstart, who tied
the game twice. The 23-year-old scored three goals in addition to a penalty
kick, earning him the Golden Boot. Gonzalo
Montiel converts his penalty and a dramatic final is won by Lionel Messi and
his team!
The Argentine soccer
legend Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, recognizing him as the
tournament's most outstanding player. Moments after being given that honor,
Messi kissed the World Cup.Teammates mobbed the great Lionel Messi moments
after the winning kick, knowing he can no longer be dogged by the one trophy
not on his mantle. Despite being a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and a member of
10 La Liga championship teams and four UEFA Champions League winning sides,
fans back home in Argentina had long held that missing World Cup trophy against
him.
Argentina won
last year's Copa America, but fans weren't satisfied until Sunday in Lusail,
Qatar where Messi's side won the sport's ultimate prize.
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