Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to win its first FIFA World Cup title in 36 years after beating France 4-2 on penalties at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar today, Sunday, December 18, 2022.
Argentina overcame defending champions, France, after the FIFA World Cup final match ended 3-3 after 120 minutes. Lionel Messi scored 2 goals to take his tally to 7 in the tournament.
Argentina began the game on a good footing, dominating with the better exchanges and making several attempts on goal.
On the 23rd minute, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, grabbed the opener, converting at the spot after sensational Di Maria was fouled in the box. The Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) forward made no mistakes as he planted the ball beautifully at the back of the net.
Angel Di Maria made it 2-0 in the 36th minute with a beautiful strike inside the box. Argentina held onto the two goal advantage to end the first half of the game.
The South American began the second half on the high as they dominated the game in the opening 30 minutes. France however, came back strongly after the coach made some changes in the second half.
The determination and resilience yielded results as the French pulled one back in the 80th minute when Argentine defender, Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi, fouled a French player in the box. PSG young sensational, Kylian Mbappé, scored from the spot, his six goal of the tournament. The 23- year Mbappe’ scored again in the 81st minute from a quick counter attack.
The referee added 8 minutes after the 90-minute regular time ended. The French came close to snatching the winner in the fourth minute of added time but goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, made a quick save to keep the scores level at 2-2.
Few minutes later, Messi was denied in the 7th minute of added time after French goalkeeper, Hugo Hadrien Dominique Lloris, pulled out a brilliant save to deny the Magician his second goal of the game.
Extra time
The game was then dragged into extra time after a sterling second half display from the French team. Argentina came close to scoring in the 104th minute but the French goalkeeper was once gain up to the task. A minute later, the South Americans were again denied by a timely intervention by the French defense.
The Argentines restored the lead in the 108th minute as Lionel Messi grabbed the second goal of the game, his 7th in the competition. His PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappé, once again restored parity in the 118th minute, converting from the spot after an Argentine defender handled the ball in the box. That completed a perfect hat-trick for the young star.
The game ended 3-3 after 120 minutes before the South Americans emerged champions of the tournament which was eventually decided through penalty shootouts.
Argentina became the second side in World Cup history to lose an opening game and go on to lift the trophy, emulating Spain in 2010.
Argentina won the FIFA world Cup in 1978 and 1986. The South Americans lost the 2014 World Cup final 1-0 to Germany.
Kylian Mbappé won the golden boot after scoring 8 goals in the tournament, one goal more than Lionel Messi with 7 goals. Lionel Messi won the best player of the tournament. Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez also won the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, both teams had met three times before at the World Cup. Argentina won both group matches in 1930 and 1978, but France was victorious in the only knockout encounter, winning 4-3 in the last 16 in 2018.
Argentina competed in its sixth World Cup final, with only Germany (eight) participating in more. The South Americans won in 1978 and 1986 and lost in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
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