Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties at the Lusail stadium in Lusail, Qatar to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In the most thrilling World Cup final that I have seen, there were six goals split between the two sides (half of which were penalties) before the game when into a penalty shootout. Lionel Messi had a brace and Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick, becoming only the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final.
Argentina took a 2-0 lead going into halftime thanks to Messi’s penalty conversion in the 23rd minute and Ángel Di María’s goal in the 36th minute.
France was off to a rough start as they did not seem to be playing with the same confidence that had gotten them all this way. Luckily, they were able to regain their composure and tie the game thanks to a brace from Mbappé in the 80th and 81st minutes.
This left the game at 2-2 and meant that extra time was needed. Again, Argentina took the lead first with an easy second goal from Messi in the 108th minute. France found a way to tie things up for a second time with Mbappé completing his hat-trick in the 118th minute.
The game ended 3-3 and needed a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Mbappé converted his third penalty of the night while Messi converted his second, keeping it at 1-1. Frenchman Kingsley Coman missed his shot while Argentine Paulo Dybala made his to give La Albiceleste a 2-1 lead. France missed again as Aurélien Tchouaméni placed his to the left of the goal. Leandro Paredes converted his and further extended Argentina’s lead to 3-1.
Randal Kolo Muani converted his shot putting the pressure back on Argentina, as they would have to make their final kick to win. Gonzalo Montiel stepped up and faked out Hugo Lloris, sending him to the right while the ball rolled into the left side of the goal.
Argentina is now the 2022 FIFA World Cup champions.
Photo: World Cup Trophy – Shutterstock – user: Nomi2626 – ID: 2190840355
Nice piece!