Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina defeated France to earn the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday in Lusail, Qatar, in a game that many are saying will be remembered as ‘one of the great finals of all time.’
The thrilling match went to extra time and then a penalty shootout between Argentina and the former reigning champion France, with Lionel Messi scoring two goals to help secure the win for Argentina. France’s star player Kylian Mbappe scored three times, twice in regulation to tie the game and again to tie the game in extra time. Mbappe finished as the top scorer with eight goals; but his team fell short in the penalty shootout with the chance to win a second consecutive World Cup. The final score was 3-3 decided in a shootout, which ended 4-2.
This is Messi’s first World Cup win and Argentina’s third. In his last World Cup appearance, Messi won the title that has eluded him throughout his career. Argentina previously won the FIFA tournament in 1978 and 1986. Before that, Argentina had been runners-up in 1930, 1990, and 2014. France had previously taken home the title in 2018, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final round.
Editorial credit: Fabideciria / Shutterstock.com
