Argentina won the World Cup after beating France on penalties in a dramatic match

Argentina beat France in a penalty shoot-out at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

Regular time at the stadium “Lusail” ended with the score 2:2. Argentine striker Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, scoring from the penalty spot. The main referee of the meeting, Szymon Marciniak, appointed an 11-meter kick after Ousmane Dembele caught Angel Di Maria from behind in the penalty area. In the 36th minute, Argentina’s midfielder Di Maria doubled the score in the game. Alexis McAllister provided the assist for the goal.

In the second half, in the 80th minute, French striker Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty, which was awarded after Otamendi hooked Colo Muani in the penalty area. And then in the 81st, Mbappe scored, after the transfer of Markus Thuram, and equalized the score in the match.

Messi scored in extra time in the 108th minute to give Argentina the lead. In the 117th, Mbappe equalized the score from the penalty spot, scoring a hat-trick in the match.

In the penalty shoot-out, Argentina’s players were more accurate – 4:2. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez parried Kingsley Coman’s shot and Tchuameni shot wide.

Argentina became a three-time world champion. Prior to that, the team won the world championship in 1978 and 1986.

Messi, starting this game, became the record holder for the number of matches at the World Championships (26), and French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris set a record among goalkeepers for this indicator (20).

Also, the 35-year-old Argentine broke Maldini’s record for the number of minutes played at the world championship and was the first in history to score in the group and in all matches from 1/8 to the final at one World Cup.