Lionel Messi has done it. In the last World Cup match of his career, the exceptional player led Argentina to the longed-for third World Cup title. The 35-year-old gave Argentina an early lead against France with a converted penalty on 23 minutes after team-mate Angel di Maria was pushed over in the box. Di Maria also scored in the 36th minute to give France a 2-0 lead at the break.
Argentina win the World Cup on penalties! @adidasfootball | FIFAWorldCup
– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Angel di Maria made it 2-0 before the break. Defending champions France reacted unusually, swapping forward duo Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé for Bundesliga players Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt) just three minutes after the 2-0 scoreline.
In the second half, it was superstar Kylian Mbappé who turned things around with two goals in the 80th and 81st minutes to bring France level at 2-2.
In extra time, it was Messi again who scored a tap-in goal in the 108th minute to give Argentina a 3-2 lead before Mbappé again equalised on a handball to make it 3-3.
– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
In the penalty shoot-out that followed, France’s shooters twice failed to hold their nerve and Argentina won 4-2. Gonzalo Montiel converted the decisive penalty for the new world champions. After his last World Cup appearance, Lionel Messi is finally on a par with Argentina’s national hero Diego Maradona, who led the Gauchos to their last World Cup title in 1986.