Lionel Messi put on a spectacular performance to help Argentina produce one of the high-scoring World Cup results in the Final at the weekend. France twice overcame deficits to force a penalty shootout in a match that will be remembered as one of the greats. Even though Messi will get all the attention, Kylian Mbappe became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. For the first 80 minutes, Argentina dominated and appeared to be cruising to their first World Cup victory since 1986.
Even though France trailed for roughly 80 percent of the game, they will have questioned whether Argentina’s penalty in the 21st minute should have been given. Dembele was hardly touched on the foot by Di Maria’s easy dink past him and into the area before the Juventus winger fell to the ground. The decision of the referee to award the penalty was not subject to a VAR review. Who will attempt the penalty kick was a foregone conclusion. Messi lined it up and skillfully delivered it by looping the ball past Hugo Lloris, sending the majority of the blue and white jerseys in the stadium into raptures.
It took a spectacular goal to make it 2-0 for Argentina against a lethargic France as they continued to dominate. When Julian Alvarez was on the halfway line, Messi flicked the ball to him to start the move. He then noticed Brighton’s Mac Allister running, who had plenty of room to get forward before squaring up to Di Maria on his left. The winger then slid the ball home with ease. Didier Deschamps only required that from his perspective. A lot sooner than Argentina for the second half, Olivier Giroud and Dembele were both hooked in the 41st minute and replaced by Marcus Thuram and Kolo Muani.
After the half, Argentina continued to have better chances because of Alvarez and Mac Allister’s effective forward connecting. Kolo Muani nodded a corner wide to give France their first shot on goal in the 67th minute. However, the drama hadn’t even begun when France was given a chance to win with a penalty in the 79th minute. Otamendi fouled Kolo Munai after misjudging his man and bringing him to the ground. Mbappe stepped up, proving that there was only one guy for the task, the same as Argentina’s penalty. Emiliano Martinez attempted to block it with a hand, but the penalty was too much for him to handle at that moment in the game.
Argentina was pushed back to 2-2 in the space of a few seconds, mirroring the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. Mbappe’s spectacular finish saw him execute a quick one-two with Kolo Muani before volleying the ball home to cap France’s comeback. Argentina had seven further minutes to score, and Messi had a chance to win it. As the game was about to go into overtime, he fired a swerving attempt goalward, but a leaping Lloris deflected the ball over the crossbar. During the extra time, Argentina came the closest to seizing the lead. Dayot Upamecano miraculously stopped Lautaro Martinez’s shot at the end of the first half, while Montiel’s long-range attempt was signaled over. Soon after, Lautaro Martinez tried his luck once more, but this time he jabbed.
In the second period of extra time, Messi gave Argentina the lead once more, with the assistance of Lautaro Martinez. Messi was waiting for the rebound after the Inter Milan forward forced a magnificent save from Lloris. Jules Kounde cleared his shot from deep inside the goal after he fired it. Before announcing the goal, there were a few anxious seconds as the referee checked his goal-line technology watch. But with four minutes left to play in a match that embodied football’s drama, France was given a second penalty. Mbappe launched a shot from the area’s perimeter to complete one of the most enthralling World Cup final results, but a leaping Montiel stopped it with an extended arm.
As the game moved to a penalty shootout, the France attacker lined the spot kick up once more and swished past Emiliano Martinez. The first two penalties were scored by the two main performers, Messi and Mbappe. However, Martinez stopped Coman before Tchouameni missed his shot. Before Kolo Muani also struck the back of the net for France, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Parades had already scored. Argentina won their first World Cup triumph in 36 years thanks to Montiel’s fourth and final penalty kick, cementing Messi’s place in football lore.
“These athletes play for their community as a team. They compete for Argentina’s supporters. I have always observed this. There are no conflicts, and everyone works together,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said. “Playing for your own country gives you the greatest sense of pride. Because they were aware of their responsibilities on the field, the players who broke their backs won this title. We are extremely content and proud. We won the World Cup today. Despite going to a penalty shootout, we deserved the victory due to our excellent effort. Only occasionally did they cause us problems. If he wants to continue playing, we must first secure him a berth in the 2026 World Cup. He’ll be with us if he wants to continue playing. He has every right to determine whether or not he wants to continue representing Argentina and what he wants to do with his career.”
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