Lionel Messi settled the GOAT debate once and for all with the victory on Sunday as Argentina beat France on penalties in a FIFA world cup final.
Winning the game on penalties, Argentina triumphed in the contest as Gonzalo Montiel, the Argentinian right back, rolled the deciding spot kick into the net, preventing France from retaining the trophy.
ARGENTINA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! 🇦🇷#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022
Truly a remarkable game to witness, with both No. 10’s Messi and Mbappe proving themselves in the world of football.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina by scoring from the penalty midway before the first half. Later in the 36th minute, Angel Di Maria, the Argentine winger, doubled the lead, giving his nation a comfortable cushion for the final.
The contest was all in Argentina’s hand until the 78th minute when Mbapee breathed life into the holders, pulling one goal back from the penalty kick. The Frenchman scored another stunner just 60 seconds later, taking away the lead from Messi’s Argentina. The game was turned on its head, and both teams were on the same level again.
The game was forced into extra time, where Messi again stepped up for his nation, converting a rebound in the 109th minute. But once again, the happiness was short-lived as Mbappe netted another spot-kick on a handball from Argentina’s side, bringing the game back on level terms. Mbappe became the first player since England’s Geoff Hurst to score a hat trick in a World Cup final after 1966.
The competition was taken to the penalty kicks to decide the winner of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The world cup’s third penalty shoot-out started with Kylian Mbappe scoring from the spot. Messi took the first one for Argentina, scoring as expected by millions around the world.
The second attempt from Kingsley Coman, the French winger, was saved by Emi Martinez, the Argentinian goalkeeper, proving an unbreakable shield yet again for his nation. Paulo Dybala, the Argentinian youngster, stepped up next, scoring from the spot, giving his nation a significant lead. At that very moment, France lost their grip on the match when Aurelien Tchouameni, the 22-year-old French midfielder, crucially missed the target.
Firing it from the spot, Gonzalo Montiel ended the contest making Argentina the champion of the football world. It was the second time France lost the final on penalties, giving it to Argentina to celebrate this remarkable victory after 36 years.
The Best World Cup Final Ever
The world seemed to settle on in an attempt to sum it all up – simply the best final ever.
Usain Bolt tweeted with pictures of himself in an Argentina jersey at Lusail Stadium.
Best World Cup Final Ever pic.twitter.com/5xJL6UXVSn
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) December 18, 2022
An international media report, Sam Ashoo, said;
“For Argentina, it’s a first World Cup win since back in 1986, for their captain, it’s the crowning moment of a truly incredible career that may well settle the debate for who is the greatest player of all time.”
