France has no chance in the World Cup final for a long time, then Kylian Mbappé hits twice out of nowhere and equalizes. Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi submits in extra time, Mbappé counters again. The defending champion lost his nerve in the penalty shoot-out.
Lionel Messi has won the spectacular duel with Kylian Mbappé, redeemed an entire nation and is now on a par with Argentina's football god Diego Maradona as world champion. The superstar led the Albiceleste to 4-2 on penalties in the breathtaking final against France, after 120 minutes it was 3-3 (2-2, 2-0).
It's Argentina's first World Cup in 36 years - in his last game on the biggest stage, Messi scored twice, fulfilling the promise an entire generation had been waiting for. He will end his career as a legend. Messi also converted in the penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also saved against Bayern star Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni missed the goal.
It was Messi's World Cup, but he shaped this final together with Mbappé. Nervously, Messi initially scored the lead with a penalty kick (23 '), quick as a thought he initiated the breakneck counterattack to make it 2-0 by Angel Di Maria (36 '), intuitively he was right for the dust-off to make it 3-2 (108 '). .
Mbappé, however, conducted France's brilliant comeback twice. First, the superstar scored twice within 97 seconds (80th, penalty kick/81st), he made it 3: 3 after a hand penalty (118th). In the end, France was dethroned - once again the defending champions failed to win a second time, this curse has been unbroken since 1958/1962 (Brazil).
Messi, on the other hand, made World Cup history in Qatar in more ways than one: he was the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. He also leaves the stage as a World Cup record holder, with 26 appearances he is ahead of Lothar Matthäus. He finally has the title that is needed for the status of a legend in Argentina, he will forever be considered the master builder of this success - like Maradona in 1986, like Mario Kempes in 1978.
The final of this much-criticized World Cup had previously been stylized as a duel between Messi and Mbappe, between young and old. At Paris St. Germain they are teammates, in the cabin aisle of the Lusail Stadium both greeted each other with a smile - they then entered with completely different people posture the lawn.
essi scowled at the golden trophy as the national anthem sang, the entire starting XI sang passionately, screaming as if to drown out the 40,000 Argentinian fans in the stadium. When the Marseillaise sounded, Mbappé smiled, he seemed completely relaxed - the scenes were a harbinger of what was to come.
Because the first few minutes belonged to Argentina in front of 88,966 spectators. The South Americans were snappier, quicker to think, won numerous duels in midfield, combined dangerously close to the goal of Hugo Lloris. The 35-year-old set a World Cup record for goalkeepers, it was his 20th appearance. Despite Argentina's superiority, he got little to do at the beginning, but then had no chance at the first shot. Former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembele had easily but decisively hit Di Maria on the foot in the penalty area. Messi looked deeply relaxed in what was perhaps the most important penalty of his career - and converted safely.
His family freaked out in the stands with his wife Antonela and their three children, and Messi disappeared among his teammates on the pitch. Argentina were now becoming more and more confident, the counterattack via Messi, Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Di Maria had almost disarming force. It was 2-0, Di Maria was already crying with happiness.
26 days after the sensational opening defeat against Saudi Arabia (1:2), Argentina played like a world champion, hard and skilled at the same time, France made two changes in the first half. Bundesliga pros Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach) and Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) came, but the world champion remained helpless for a long time - until a foul on Kolo Muani gave Mbappé the chance from the point. France's equalizer came from Messi losing the ball, of all things, but the happy ending came later.
Argentina's triumph marked the end of a World Cup that had never been seen before: highly controversial, pushed mercilessly with many billions and a warm hand policy - and without regard to resources or human lives. Postponed to winter because otherwise unbearable heat. In the end it was: a single Qatari victory.
