Argentina dominated for a long time and took a 2-0 lead after Messi scored from a penalty through Ángel Di María. However, in the 80th minute Mbappé reduced the penalty, which he equalized in the next 97 seconds. In the 108th minute, Messi qualified again, but ten minutes later Mbappé completed the hat-trick from the penalty spot.
In the harrowing end of extra time, in which both teams could decide, the score did not change. Therefore, there was a shooting, which the South Americans managed much better. Substitute Gonzalo Montiel converted the decisive penalty.
Thus, the national team of the country of the Gaelic rooster did not become the first team since 1962 to defend the most valuable trophy and did not follow up on the memorable victories of 1998 and 2018.
“La Albiceleste” won the World Cup for the third time in history, in the past it triumphed in 1978 and in 1986 led by the legendary Diego Maradona.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who said before the start of the tournament he had played in the last World Cup, also became independent from Germany’s Lothar Matthäus with a record 26 league matches.
French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris became the first goalkeeper in history to start the 20th match at the World Cup, after the semifinals he shared first place with another German, Manuel Neuer.
The best ending in history?
The Argentines were better from the kick-off and took advantage midway through the first half. Dembélé let Di María step over him, fouled him in the box and Polish referee Marciniak did not hesitate to award a penalty, which Messi converted with confidence after sending Lloris over.
The South American captain became the first in history to score in a World Cup in all rounds. At 35 years and 177 days, he became the second oldest goalscorer in the final after Sweden’s Liedholm.
In the 36th minute the Argentines increase the score. After a lightning combination, they went into a two-on-one break, which was finished off by Di María on a pass from Mac Allister. Returning to the starting lineup he scored for the first time in the tournament and was the first player in history to make it to the finals of the World Championship, Continental Championship and Olympic Games.
In the World Cup final for the first time since 1966, the French did not shoot the entire opening act and did not have a single touch on the opponent’s goal – as if the consequences of the virus, which several players were dealing with before the match on Sunday, it had fallen on them.
Coach Deschamps, who was the second in history after Italy’s Pozzo to defend his World Cup gold with his team, made two substitutions after 41 minutes. Surprisingly, Giroud and Dembélé took the best scorer in the history of the French national team – he put Thuram with Kol Muani.
Since 1954, no team has been able to overturn the 0-2 scoreline in the final, and neither have the French, although despite a weaker performance in the first hour, surprisingly they weren’t far from that in the end. The Gaelic bantamweight’s country selection survived several chances from the opponent early in the second half and then unexpectedly dramatized the match for gold.
They didn’t strike for the first time until the 68th minute, but then equalized from their first two tries in goal. In the 79th minute, Otamendi fouled the speedy Kolo Muani in the penalty area, and Mbappé was lucky to save from the penalty, although Emiliano Martínez touched the ball.
Over the next 97 seconds, Paris St. Germain striker struck again. After the tapping, Thurama moved past Martínez to score twice in the previous encounter four years ago.
A sensational breakthrough could have been completed in the 4th minute from Rabiot’s assist, but Emiliano Martínez reflexively saved. On the opposite side, Messi’s shot was saved by Lloris and the final went to extra time.
The Argentines lost their lead at the end of regular time and in the quarterfinals, in which they eliminated the Dutch on penalties. After the first half of extra time, substitute Lautaro Martínez missed two great chances, but the South Americans took the lead again on 108 minutes. Lautaro Martínez is yet to beat Lloris, but Messi’s recovery was just over the line, as confirmed by technology.
In that moment, the star player equaled Mbappé at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with seven goals, but his PSG teammate rebounded him again. In the 118th minute, this time he easily converted his second penalty after hitting Montiel’s hand in the box. Mbappé was the second after England’s Hurst to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final.
Both teams tried to decide before penalties. After extra time against Kolo Muani, Argentina were held up by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who also caught Coman’s attempt in the second round of penalties. Subsequently, Tchouaméni fired wide, while the South Americans did not hesitate. Montiel managed as fourth and started a wave of celebrations for “La Albiceleste”.
