Argentina clinched the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by beating France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw at the end of 120 minutes.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe dominated the encounter at the Lusail Stadium by displaying their goalscoring prowess.
La Albiceleste led 2-0 at halftime and 3-2 in extra time, with Messi scoring twice either side of a goal from the exceptional Angel Di Maria.
However, Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe became the second man in World Cup final history to score a hat-trick, twice holding his nerve from the penalty spot in a pulsating 3-3 draw.
Mbappe boosted France’s morale by converting the first attempt in the penalty shoot-out, but Kinglsey Coman’s spot-kick was saved by Emiliano Martinez and Aurelien Tchoumeni fired wide.
Messi, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes all converted, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to send Hugo Lloris the wrong way and secure Argentina’s third World Cup title.
Messi opened the scoring for Lionel Scaloni’s side in the 23rd minute, converting from the penalty after Angel Di Maria was brought down by Ousmane Dembele.
Di Maria who started a match for the first time since the group stage, made a statement with his commanding display on the left wing and it paid off with Argentina’s second goal following a fine attacking move that involved Messi, Alexis MacAllister and Julain Alvarez.
The game turned on its head in the final 10 minutes, with Mbappe finding the back of the net twice within 97 seconds (80th and 82nd minutes) to force it into extra-time.
Substitute Lauraro Martinez was close to restoring Argentina’s lead but it was saved by Hugo Lloris and Messi rushed to scramble home the rebound in the 108th minute. It did not take long for Didier Deschamps’ men to respond as Mbappe grabbed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was another standout player in the Lusail Stadium with his exceptional save from Kolo Muani at the death of the extra-time and he also made two penalty saves in the shoot-out to secure Argentina’s first World Cup title since 1986.
