The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France took place on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar. Kickoff was at 18:00 local AST, which translated to 10:00 AM EST, 9:00 AM CST, 8:00 AM MST, and 7:00 AM PST in the United States, and 3:00 PM GMT in the United Kingdom.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest football matches ever played, the fixture featured a dramatic clash between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappé's France. After a 3-3 draw following extra time, Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout to claim their third World Cup title.
Match Timeline and Key Details
The final delivered relentless drama from start to finish. Argentina controlled the opening hour, seizing a commanding lead before France mounted a stunning late comeback.
- First Half (Argentina 2-0 France): Argentina dominated the early stages. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a penalty kick. Angel Di Maria doubled the lead in the 36th minute, finishing a brilliant team counter-attack. France struggled to find any rhythm and made two tactical substitutions before halftime.
- Second Half (Argentina 2-2 France): For nearly eighty minutes, Argentina coasted. Then Kylian Mbappé changed everything. He scored a penalty in the 80th minute and followed it up with a stunning volley just 97 seconds later, tying the game at 2-2 and forcing extra time.
- Extra Time (Argentina 3-3 France): Both teams pushed for a winner in the extra period. Messi bundled home a rebound in the 108th minute to put Argentina ahead 3-2. Just when victory seemed secure, a handball in the box gave France another penalty. Mbappé converted in the 118th minute to complete a historic hat-trick and level the score at 3-3.
The Penalty Shootout
With nothing separating the sides after 120 minutes, the championship came down to penalties. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved a shot from Kingsley Coman, and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed wide for France.
Argentina converted all four of their attempts, ending with Gonzalo Montiel slotting home the decisive kick. The 4-2 shootout victory secured Argentina's first World Cup trophy since Diego Maradona led them to glory in 1986.
Standout Individual Records
The 2022 final shattered records and produced legendary individual performances that fans still talk about today.
- Lionel Messi: Awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, Messi finally captured the only major trophy that had eluded his career. He scored twice in the final and converted his penalty in the shootout.
- Kylian Mbappé: Won the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals in the tournament. His hat-trick in the final made him only the second player in history to score three goals in a World Cup final, following England's Geoff Hurst in 1966.
- Szymon Marciniak: The Polish referee handled a high-pressure, chaotic match with composure, earning widespread praise for his management of the global broadcast watched by millions on networks like Fox Sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the 2022 World Cup final played?
The match took place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, in front of an official attendance of 88,966 spectators.
Who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Argentina won the tournament, defeating France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended in a 3-3 draw. It was Argentina's third World Cup title overall.
How many goals did Lionel Messi score in the final?
Messi scored two goals during open play and extra time, plus another goal during the penalty shootout.
What was the broadcast channel in the United States?
In the United States, viewers watched the match live on Fox Sports and Telemundo, or streamed it through platforms like FIFA+.
