Lionel Messi has signed off from the FIFA World Cup as a winner at Qatar 2022 in a dramatic final at Lusail stadium.
Messi’s Argentina clinched their third World Cup trophy from six final appearances in history on Sunday defeating France 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) to win the biggest prize in men’s football – with Messi himself getting on the scoresheet twice.
The triumph is Argentina’s first World Cup title since Mexico 1986, and ends French hopes of becoming just the third country after Italy & Brazil to successfully defend the trophy.
It was Messi’s experience that ruled the day – although Mbappé also netted twice in two minutes late in the second half (80’ (P), 81’) to force extra time, before completing a World Cup Final hat-trick in the extra period (118’ (P))to force the shoot-out.
Mbappé became just the second man in World Cup history to score a hat-trick in the final after Geoff Hurst in 1966 and won the Golden Boot for top goalscorer (8 goals), but ended up on the losing end.
Messi’s double (23’ (P), 108’) saw him finish the tournament on seven goals – but more importantly, sign off from his World Cup career with a winner’s medal. Angel Di Maria scored one for Argentina in 36’.
In Penalty shootout, Messi, Dybala, Paredes and Montiel scored for Argentina. For France, Mbappe and Kolo Muani scored while Coman and Tchouameni missed.
Award Winners:
Lionel Messi – Golden Ball
Kylian Mbappe – Golden Boot
Enzo Fernandez – Young player of World Cup 2022
Emiliano Martinez – Golden Glove
England – Fair Play
Argentina Starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez
France Starting XI: Hugo Lloris (captain), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe
Picture Courtesy: FIFA Media
