Argentina won the World Cup for the third time, beating France 4-2 on penalties after an impressive 3-3 draw in the 2022 final in Qatar.
Lionel Messi’s penalty and Ángel Di María’s goal looked to have put Argentina in front, but two quick goals from Kylian Mbappé turned the game around with 10 minutes remaining. The French talisman converted the penalty and stole home 60 seconds later to send the final into extra time.
Argentina rallied in extra time as Dayot Upamecano denied substitute Lautaro Martínez twice before half-time. At the start of the second half, Martínez broke through again and after Hugo Lloris finished his bomb, Messi forced the ball over the line. France still does not believe that Mbappé has turned
The Albiceleste kicked off the game at the Lusail Stadium in front of a home crowd and took the lead 23 minutes into the first half. Ángel Di María pulled down Ousmane Dembélé in the box and referee Szymon Marciniak pointed to a penalty.
Lionel Messi came on and sent France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the wrong way to put Argentina in front. Thirteen minutes later, it was two when Lionel Scaloni’s side broke through at high speed as the French entered the field. After Messi scored, Alexis Mac Allister played in Di María, who fired the ball past Lloris to give Argentina control.
France coach Didier Deschamps made two changes before half-time, replacing Olivier Giroud with Dembélé and Marcus Thuram with Randal Kolo Muani. Kylian Mbappé crossed the middle but had little impact as Argentina continued to provide an attacking threat early in the second half.
Just as time seemed to be running out, Nicolás Otamendi brought down Kolo Muani in the box and Mbappé parried Emiliano Martínez from the spot. Moments later, Kingsley Coman took the ball from Messi in midfield and Mbappé headed home perfectly to put France level at no point, sending the game into extra time.
