DOHA-Argentina defeated France on penalties in a thrilling final to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Sunday.
Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani look on during the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony on December 18, 2022. Argentina won in the penalty shoot-out. (Photo by AFP).
The two sides ended level on 3-3 after an enthralling 120 minutes at the Lusail Stadium, with France twice coming from behind to force the game to spot kicks.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, coolly dispatching a penalty after winger Angel Di Maria was brought down by Ousmane Dembele.
Di Maria then got on the scoresheet in the 36th minute, finishing off a sweeping move from close range to send Argentina into the break firmly in control.
They could have had a third in the 58th minute, but French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved Julian Alvarez’s close-range shot.
France narrowed the gap in the 80th minute with a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappe, the first of the forward’s stunning hat trick.
Mbappe grabbed his second just a minute later to level the match at 2-2, finishing off Marcus Thuram’s assist with a crisp strike.
Messi’s long-range shot was saved by Lloris in the 97th minute, leaving the scores tied at 2-2 after normal time.
Despite several efforts, neither side was able to break the deadlock in the first half of extra time.
Messi scored his second of the night in the 109th minute, forcing the ball in after Lloris blocked Lautaro Martinez’s shot.
France were awarded a penalty after a handball by Gonzalo Montiel in the 117th minute, and Mbappe stepped up to score his third.In the penalty shootout, Argentina claimed a 4-2 win to lift their third World Cup in history.
The Argentina national football team has won three FIFA World Cups, one in 1978 and one in 1986, and now in 2022, making them one of the most successful national teams in the world. Argentina was runner-up three times, in 1930, 1990, and 2014.(Agencies)