On December 18, 2022, the Lusail Stadium in Qatar hosted what many analysts and fans regard as the greatest football match ever played. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and France wasn't just a contest for international glory; it was a sprawling, cinematic epic featuring tactical masterstrokes, shocking momentum swings, and a legendary duel between two generational talents in Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
While many retrospectives focus solely on the high-scoring drama of the final stages, understanding how the match unfolded requires looking closely at the tactical chess match, the physical fatigue that altered both sides, and the specific decisions that shaped a 3-3 draw before penalties decided the trophy.
The Tactical Blueprint: Scaloni's Surprise and France's Flat Start
Before a ball was kicked, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni pulled off a tactical surprise that completely disrupted Didier Deschamps' game plan. By deploying Ángel Di María on the left flank rather than his customary right wing, Scaloni exploited a structural vulnerability in France's defensive setup.
France entered the match sluggishly, struggling to cope with Argentina's midfield density. Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister completely suffocated Antoine Griezmann, cutting off the supply lines to Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé.
The pressure yielded results in the 21st minute. Di María cut inside from the left and drew a clumsy foul from Ousmane Dembélé inside the penalty area. Lionel Messi stepped up, calmly slotting the penalty past Hugo Lloris to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.
France couldn't find an answer. In the 36th minute, Argentina capped off a textbook counter-attack. Mac Allister surged forward and delivered a sweeping low cross to Di María, who finished with a composed left-footed shot. Argentina went into halftime leading 2-0, completely dominant, while Deschamps was forced into an emergency double-substitution before the break, removing Giroud and Dembélé for Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
The 97-Second Storm: Mbappé and France Fight Back
For the first thirty-five minutes of the second half, Argentina controlled the tempo and neutralized every French threat. France failed to register a single shot on goal until the 80th minute.
Then, the match erupted.
Kolo Muani raced behind Argentina's backline and was brought down by Nicolás Otamendi in the box. Mbappé stepped up to the spot, converting past Emiliano Martínez to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Just 97 seconds later, France struck again. Kingsley Coman won possession from Messi in midfield, igniting a lightning-fast transition. Mbappé played a quick one-two with Thuram and unleashed a ferocious, first-time volley past Martínez while falling slightly to the ground. In less than two minutes, a dormant French side wiped out Argentina's two-goal cushion, leveling the score at 2-2.
The momentum completely shifted. France surged forward looking for a winner in regulation, but both teams survived nervy stoppage-time moments, sending the final into extra time.
Extra Time and the Ultimate Penalty Shootout
Extra time exposed the extreme physical exhaustion of both squads. Scaloni introduced fresh legs with Lautaro Martínez and Leandro Paredes, which helped Argentina regain a foothold in possession.
In the 108th minute, Argentina broke through again. Lloris parried an initial shot from Lautaro Martínez into the path of Messi, who forced the ball over the line from close range despite a desperate clearance attempt by Jules Koundé. Argentina led 3-2, and victory seemed secured.
Yet, the drama wasn't finished. With just four minutes remaining in extra time, Mbappé struck a fierce volley that struck the raised arm of Argentina defender Gonzalo Montiel inside the box. Mbappé converted the resulting penalty in the 118th minute, securing a historic hat-trick and bringing France level at 3-3. He joined Geoff Hurst (1966) as the only players to score a hat-trick in a men's World Cup final.
Deep into stoppage time, Kolo Muani found himself completely unmarked inside the box with a clear path to goal, but Emiliano Martínez produced one of the most iconic saves in football history, stopping the shot with his left shin. Immediately down the other end, Lautaro Martínez headed wide, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
Shootout Sequence
- France: Mbappé (Goal)
- Argentina: Messi (Goal)
- France: Coman (Saved by Emiliano Martínez)
- Argentina: Dybala (Goal)
- France: Tchouaméni (Missed wide)
- Argentina: Paredes (Goal)
- France: Kolo Muani (Goal)
- Argentina: Montiel (Goal)
Gonzalo Montiel stepped up to convert the winning penalty, securing a 4-2 shootout victory and sealing Argentina's third World Cup title.
Match Statistics at a Glance
- Possession: Argentina 53% - 47% France
- Total Shots: Argentina 21 - 10 France
- Shots on Target: Argentina 10 - 5 France
- Fouls Committed: Argentina 26 - 19 France
- Yellow Cards: Argentina 5 - 3 France
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final?
Kylian France forward Kylian Mbappé scored three goals for France, making him only the second player in history to score a hat-trick in a men's World Cup final.
How many times have Argentina won the World Cup?
With their victory in Qatar, Argentina secured their third FIFA World Cup title, adding to their previous triumphs in 1978 and 1986.
Who won the Golden Ball for the 2022 tournament?
Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament after scoring seven goals and providing three assists during Argentina's championship run.
How many penalty shootouts has Argentina won in World Cup history?
Argentina holds the record for the most penalty shootout wins in World Cup history, relying heavily on clutch goalkeeping performances in knockout stages over the decades.
