World Cup final 2022: The story of the game as Argentina beat France in classic

Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup after an extraordinary final against France

Charlotte Hodges
Sunday 18 December 2022 15:15 EST
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Lionel Messi raises the World Cup trophy into the air during Argentina’s celebrations
Lionel Messi raises the World Cup trophy into the air during Argentina’s celebrations (Getty)

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Argentina have won the 2022 World Cup after emerging victorious from a penalty shootout in a scarcely-believable final against France.

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as the 2018 champions twice came from behind after Lionel Messi’s brace had twice put Argentina ahead.

But Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed from 12 yards before Gonzalo Montiel netted the decisive spot-kick to spark wild scenes of celebration.

Messi had opened the scoring in the first-half before Angel Di Maria added a second before Mbappe produced some magic of his own to drag his own side back in it.

His first came from the spot before volleying in a second less than two minutes later to send the game into extra-time.

Messi struck again from close range with what he thought was the winner before Mbappe completed his treble - again from 12 yards - to force a shootout.

Emiliano Martinez saved from Coman before Tchouameni screwed his effort wide leaving Montiel to win it with the fourth and final kick.

Here is the story of an extraordinary game:

Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi sing the Argentine national anthem
Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi sing the Argentine national anthem (Reuters)
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi go for the ball
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi go for the ball (AP)
Cristian Romero pushes into Hugo Lloris as he punches the ball away
Cristian Romero pushes into Hugo Lloris as he punches the ball away (Reuters)
Hugo Lloris receives medical attention
Hugo Lloris receives medical attention (Reuters)
Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann fight for the ball with Messi
Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann fight for the ball with Messi (AFP/Getty)
Ousmane Dembele fouls Angel Di Maria in the box
Ousmane Dembele fouls Angel Di Maria in the box (Getty)
Gianni Infantino, Fifa president, and French President Emmanuel Macron
Gianni Infantino, Fifa president, and French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty)
Messi scores the first goal from the penalty spot
Messi scores the first goal from the penalty spot (Reuters)
Players surround Messi after he scored
Players surround Messi after he scored (AP)
Argentina players celebrate their first goal
Argentina players celebrate their first goal (AFP/Getty)
France players stand dejected after conceding the opening goal of the game
France players stand dejected after conceding the opening goal of the game (PA)
All smiles after scoring
All smiles after scoring (AP)
Argentina fans celebrate their opening goal
Argentina fans celebrate their opening goal (PA)
Adrien Rabiot reacts as referee Szymon Marciniak signals whilst Messi holds his head on the floor
Adrien Rabiot reacts as referee Szymon Marciniak signals whilst Messi holds his head on the floor (Reuters)
Angel Di Maria scores Argentina's second goal
Angel Di Maria scores Argentina's second goal (Getty)
Di Maria reels away in celebration
Di Maria reels away in celebration (Getty)
Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi celebrate with Di Maria after he scored
Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi celebrate with Di Maria after he scored (Reuters)
Argentina players celebrate their second goal
Argentina players celebrate their second goal (Getty)
Alexis Mac Allister hugs Di Maria after he scored
Alexis Mac Allister hugs Di Maria after he scored (AFP/Getty)
Olivier Giroud jumps over Angel Di Maria to head the ball
Olivier Giroud jumps over Angel Di Maria to head the ball (Reuters)
Giroud throwing a bottle after being substituted off
Giroud throwing a bottle after being substituted off (PA)
Alexis Mac Allister lands on the floor after Hugo Lloris makes a save against
Alexis Mac Allister lands on the floor after Hugo Lloris makes a save against (Getty)
France’s Kingsley Coman has his shirt pulled up by two Argentina players
France’s Kingsley Coman has his shirt pulled up by two Argentina players (Reuters)
Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani and concedes a penalty
Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani and concedes a penalty (PA)
Mbappe scores France’s first goal from the penalty spot
Mbappe scores France’s first goal from the penalty spot (Getty)
Argentina players look dejected as Mbappe celebrates scoring France’s first goal
Argentina players look dejected as Mbappe celebrates scoring France’s first goal (PA)
Mbappe scores his and France’s second goal
Mbappe scores his and France’s second goal (Getty)
Kylian Mbappe wheels away after equalising
Kylian Mbappe wheels away after equalising (Getty)
France players celebrate their second goal
France players celebrate their second goal (Reuters)
Mbappe screams after scoring his second of the game
Mbappe screams after scoring his second of the game (Reuters)
Lionel Messi reacts after Kylian Mbappe’s second goal
Lionel Messi reacts after Kylian Mbappe’s second goal (Getty)
Lionel Scaloni, Head Coach of Argentina, speaks to players before extra time
Lionel Scaloni, Head Coach of Argentina, speaks to players before extra time (Getty)
Kylian Mbappe receives medical attention before extra time
Kylian Mbappe receives medical attention before extra time (Reuters)
Hugo Lloris saves a Lionel Messi shot
Hugo Lloris saves a Lionel Messi shot (Reuters)
Marcus Thuram reacts after being tackled by Cristian Romero
Marcus Thuram reacts after being tackled by Cristian Romero (PA)
Fans display a flag reading ‘Free Palestine’ in the stands
Fans display a flag reading ‘Free Palestine’ in the stands (Reuters)
Szymon Marciniak helps up Kylian Mbappe
Szymon Marciniak helps up Kylian Mbappe (Getty)
Lionel Messi scores Argentina’s third goal
Lionel Messi scores Argentina’s third goal (Reuters)
Hugo Lloris looks on as Messi’s shot crosses the line
Hugo Lloris looks on as Messi’s shot crosses the line (Getty)
Messi celebrates scoring
Messi celebrates scoring (Reuters)
Argentina players celebrate their third
Argentina players celebrate their third (Getty)
Gonzalo Montiel’s handball results in a France penalty
Gonzalo Montiel’s handball results in a France penalty (Getty)
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his and France’s third goal
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his and France’s third goal (Getty)
France players celebrate with Mbappe after he scored their third goal
France players celebrate with Mbappe after he scored their third goal (AP)
Emiliano Martinez saves Kingsley Coman’s penalty during the shootout
Emiliano Martinez saves Kingsley Coman’s penalty during the shootout (Reuters)
Martinez celebrates as Coman puts his hands on his head after having his penalty saved
Martinez celebrates as Coman puts his hands on his head after having his penalty saved (Reuters)
Gonzalo Montiel celebrates after scoring Argentina’s fourth and winning penalty
Gonzalo Montiel celebrates after scoring Argentina’s fourth and winning penalty (Getty)
Argentina players celebrate becoming World Champions as France players stand dejected
Argentina players celebrate becoming World Champions as France players stand dejected (AP)
Mbappe looks dejected after the match
Mbappe looks dejected after the match (Reuters)
Argentina players celebrate after Montiel’s penalty won them the World Cup
Argentina players celebrate after Montiel’s penalty won them the World Cup (Getty)
Argentina players celebrate winning the match and World Cup
Argentina players celebrate winning the match and World Cup (Getty)
Lionel Messi celebrates winning the World Cup
Lionel Messi celebrates winning the World Cup (Reuters)
Sergio Agüero and Lionel Messi celebrate after the game
Sergio Agüero and Lionel Messi celebrate after the game (PA)
Argentina players celebrate
Argentina players celebrate (Getty)
Mbappe sits in the dugout
Mbappe sits in the dugout (Reuters)
Messi kisses the World Cup trophy
Messi kisses the World Cup trophy (Reuters)
A robe is put on Lionel Messi by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Gianni Infantino during the trophy presentation
A robe is put on Lionel Messi by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Gianni Infantino during the trophy presentation (Reuters)
(EPA)
Messi lifts the trophy
Messi lifts the trophy (Reuters)
Lionel Messi celebrates with his family after winning the World Cup
Lionel Messi celebrates with his family after winning the World Cup (AP)
Messi is lifted into shoulders to celebrate the win
Messi is lifted into shoulders to celebrate the win (Getty)
Argentina's players celebrate with supporters
Argentina's players celebrate with supporters (AP)
(Getty)
Lionel Messi holds the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates in the goal of the penalty shootout
Lionel Messi holds the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates in the goal of the penalty shootout (AP)
Argentina players celebrate with the goal netting around
Argentina players celebrate with the goal netting around (AP)
(Getty)
Lionel Messi kisses the trophy
Lionel Messi kisses the trophy (Reuters)
Messi and Angel Di Maria hold the trophy together
Messi and Angel Di Maria hold the trophy together (PA)

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