2022 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina beat France in a penalty-shootout classic
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, played on 18 December 2022 at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar, is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history. Argentina and France finished 3-3 after extra time, and Argentina prevailed 4-2 in the penalty shootout to claim their third world title (after 1978 and 1986).
How the match unfolded
Argentina dominated the first half. Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Ángel Di María was fouled inside the box. Di María himself added a beautifully worked second goal in the 36th minute, finishing a sweeping team move that began with a steal by Enzo Fernández.
France were shell-shocked and barely threatened before the break. But Kylian Mbappé changed the game single-handedly. He scored twice in two minutes — a 80th-minute penalty and a 81st-minute volley — to level the match at 2-2 and force extra time.
Messi thought he had won it when he tapped in from close range in the 108th minute, but Mbappé completed his hat-trick with another penalty in the 118th minute (a handball by Gonzalo Montiel), making it 3-3. It was only the second hat-trick ever scored in a World Cup final, after Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.
The shootout
In the penalties, Argentina’s Emi Martínez saved Kingsley Coman’s effort and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed, while all four Argentine kickers — Messi, Di María, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes’ replacement — converted. Argentina won 4-2.
Why it mattered
The win gave Lionel Messi the one trophy missing from his collection and confirmed Argentina’s status as 2022 world champions. For France, Mbappé’s hat-trick (and the Golden Boot with 8 goals) was a consolation in a defeat that denied them back-to-back titles.
Sources
- FIFA — 2022 World Cup final report: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022
- Wikipedia — 2022 FIFA World Cup final: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_final
- BBC Sport — Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens): https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63990659
