After Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick ensured the game ended level at 3-3 after extra time, Argentina defeated France on penalties in a World Cup final to remember on Sunday. Lionel Messi won 4-2 in the shootout to cap off his illustrious career.
Gonzalo Montiel converted the game-winning penalty to give Argentina their third World Cup and save France from winning the championship for the first time in 60 years.
But in a really amazing contest, Messi and Mbappe lived up to their reputations, with Messi scoring twice and Mbappe becoming the first player to score three goals in a World Cup final since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Midway through the first half, Messi scored the game’s opening goal from the penalty spot, and 36 seconds later, Angel Di Maria increased Argentina’s advantage on a counterattack.
The incredible Mbappe, however, gave the holders hope when he forced extra time with a remarkable 60-second equalizer after pulling one back from the spot with 10 seconds remaining.
When Messi scored again in the 109th minute, it appeared as though Argentina had won the match for good. However, Mbappe scored again from the penalty spot to tie the score at 3-3 and force a shootout.
Messi and Mbappe both converted their first penalties in the third World Cup final penalty shootout, but Kingsley Coman’s second attempt for France was saved, and importantly, Aurelien Tchouameni missed the mark.
France lost the World Cup final on penalties for the second time in five tournaments, to Italy in 2006, and Argentina won the tournament for the first time since 1986.
With the victory, Messi, 35, can emulate the legendary Diego Maradona to cap off his illustrious career.
I wanted to end my career with this, of course. I’m at my limit,’ he said on Argentine television.
‘These are my last years, so my career is coming to a close. What else could there possibly be? ’
However, he declared that he will stay with the Argentina team.
He continued, “I want to continue playing in a few more matches as world champion.”
Despite Mbappe’s best efforts, who finished with eight goals, one more than Messi, this will be remembered as his tournament.
Didier Deschamps, coach of France, stated, “I don’t want to take anything away from Argentina, but there are lots and plenty of emotions and it was painful at the end because we were so close.”
A virus jeopardized France’s attempt to make history in the days leading up to the final, and they appeared lethargic before Argentina took the lead.
When Di Maria was tripped in the box by Ousmane Dembele, Messi converted the penalty kick to tie Pele’s record for most World Cup goals with 12.
When Alexis MacAllister was freed by a combination of Messi and Julian Alvarez, he sent a first-time pass to the back post for Di Maria to score, giving Argentina a bigger lead.
Injury prevented Di Maria from playing much in the knockout stages, but he was back here and looked emotional as he celebrated his goal, a World Cup final classic.
Deschamps replaced Olivier Giroud and the struggling Dembele before the half despite France having not even attempted a shot.
As Mbappe moved towards the center of the attack, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram entered the game.
In their last World Cup final success, 36 years earlier, Argentina had blown a two-goal lead before ultimately winning, but there didn’t seem to be much chance of that happening again.
But when the French were awarded a late penalty after Kolo Muani was hauled down by Nicolas Otamendi, they found themselves unexpectedly in a better position.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, stood up as Mbappe smashed in the penalty kick. France had faith, and they leveled off after another minute.
Before finding Thuram and responding to his partner’s knockdown with an incredible volley, Mbappe stole the ball from Messi, who had been robbed of it by Coman earlier.
The French players on the bench sprinted across the field to celebrate with their comrade in what will go down as one of the most dramatic World Cup scenes ever.
When Messi scored after Lautaro Martinez’s shot was saved, Argentina, who lost the 2014 championship game in overtime, appeared defeated once more.
Mbappe, however, saved France once more by successfully converting a second penalty after Montiel was fouled.
Prior to Montiel’s game-winning kick, Argentina had to force penalties thanks to an outstanding Emiliano Martinez stop from Kolo Muani.
