World Cup Daily: Argentina crowned champions in final for the ages

After each matchday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events.                   

Here’s what happened on Sunday in Qatar, in case you missed it…     

THE RESULT 

Argentina 3, France 3 (Argentina wins shootout 4-2) in Lusail: Match report || Match stats 

MAIN TALKING POINT

An epic World Cup final 

Everyone watching around the globe - from the barrios of Buenos Aires to the ports of Marseille and all points between – were reminded on Sunday why the World Cup is the single greatest sporting event on the planet. Nothing can match it. Not the Olympics. Not the Stanley Cup. Not the NBA Finals. Not the Super Bowl. Not the World Series. Nothing. The World Cup is head and shoulders above them all, and it’s not even close. 

For nearly three hours, Argentina and France put on a sporting spectacle of sheer entertainment, excitement, tension and class, the likes of which the World Cup has never before witnessed. Arguments will rage on about whether this was the greatest soccer game in history. But of this there can be no doubt: Argentina’s penalty shootout victory over France will go down as the greatest World Cup final in history. 

Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t have scripted a better final than what took place at the Lusail Stadium just north of Doha. What transpired between the Argentine and French transcended sport – it was human drama at its finest, its rawest. 

Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in the space of 97 seconds, dragging France back into the game after it had been badly outplayed for 80 minutes. He would go on to score again in extra time, tying the score for the second time to keep alive Les Bleus’ hopes of becoming the first team to repeat as winners of the men’s World Cup in 60 years. 

But Mbappé’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate had other ideas, as Lionel Messi scored twice, set up another, and converted during the penalty shootout to deliver his beloved Argentina its third World Cup crown. Not since 1986 in Mexico had La Albiceleste hoisted the World Cup trophy aloft thanks in part to another magical genius named Diego Maradona. 

Much like Maradona did 36 years ago, Messi came through for his country in the most crucial moments. Both players had solid supporting casts but take away Maradona and Messi from the 1986 and 2022 teams and you’re left with two vastly different Argentina sides. And yet, Maradona and Messi brilliantly handled the burden, and played some of the best soccer of their respective careers. 

GOAL OF THE DAY 

In the 36th minute, Argentina won back possession inside its half and then launched a quick counterattack. The superb five-pass sequence by the South Americans was highlighted by Lionel Messi’s flick with the outside of his foot that released Julian Alvarez down the right side. Moments later, Alexis Mac Allister played the ball across the box for a streaking Angel Di Maria to fire home past French goalkeeper Hug Lloris. 

MOMENT OF THE DAY 

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s remarkable save on France’s Kolo Muani sent the game to a shootout, providing Argentina with a chance to win its third World Cup.

SIX PACK OF STATS 

• Lionel Messi is the first player to ever score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semifinals, and final in a single World Cup. 

• France’s Lilian Thuram (1998) and Marcus Thuram (2022) are the first father and son combination to play in World Cup finals. 

• Argentina has won the World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Only Italy (44 years from 1938 to 1982) had ever had a longer gap between winning two World Cups.  

• Kylian Mbappé is only the second player to score a hat trick in a men’s World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst (1966). 

• Four of the last five men’s World Cup finals have gone to extra time, as many as the previous 16 finals combined.   

• France is the first side on record not to attempt a single shot in the first half of a men’s World Cup final. 

Stats courtesy of Opta  

THREE STARS OF THE DAY 

1) Kylian Mbappé (France): Bagged a brace in the last 10 minutes to tie things up, and then scored again in extra time to become only the second man to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final. 

2) Lionel Messi (Argentina): Scored two goals, set up another, and then converted in the penalty shootout to deliver Argentina its third World Cup crown, and its first since 1986 in Mexico.  

3) Angel Di Maria (Argentina): Earned the penalty that led to Messi’s opener, and then scored to give Argentina a 2-0 lead. He was a constant thorn in France’s side before being subbed out. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023 and 2026 

The Canadian women’s team will compete at the World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand, looking to win its first tournament after claiming the gold medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. On the men’s side, the next tournament will be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026 when the Canadian men’s team will be aiming to collect its first win at the World Cup.