FIFA World Cup Final: Lionel Messi scripts history, becomes 1st player to score in all knockout stages

In an extraordinary final match held on Sunday, December 19, 2022, Argentina won the Qatar World Cup 2022 to lift the World Cup trophy for the third time. They (Argentina) beat France 4-2 on penalties after The Great Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down.

It was the first time in a long time that Argentina won the title as they last won the World Cup in 1986, against Germany to claim its second title in three tournaments. For fans across the world, it was a nail-biting experience, along with thrill and celebrations for both sides at several points during the match.

The exciting night of drama, and suspense, with high emotion and fluctuating fortunes, delivered one of the all-time great finales to cap a wonderful tournament as its two-star players presented incredible performances in the biggest sports tournament of all.

The Argentina star Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead again, but Kylian Mbappe levelled with another penalty, making him the second man to score a World Cup final hat-trick after Geoff Hurst from England in 1966.

“It was a wonderful game night where we suffered,” stated the goalkeeper of Argentina, Emiliano Martinez, who, in the shootout, made a crucial penalty save and was later crowned FIFA’s goalkeeper of the tournament.

Argentina squandered a 2-0 lead in a whirlwind two minutes in regular time before going back in front in extra time with Messi’s second goal of the game. But it was then French star Kylian Mbappe, who completed his hat-trick – a first in the final in 56 years – to level 3-3 in the 118th minute and trigger the shootout.

Just like everyone and including Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, it was a nail-biting finish, and he could not hold back his tears following the final whistle. “I cannot believe the moment I just witnessed as we have suffered so much in a perfect game, truly unbelievable,” says the Argentina coach Scaloni.

The Argentina coach further added, “I am proud of the work they did. I want to tell people to enjoy it, as it’s a historic moment for our nation. We who live for this and who have been through the good and the bad are used to these things, and above all, it is an incredible enjoyment”.

It was the third world title for Argentina and the first since the late Diego Maradona won the trophy almost single-handedly in 1986.

List of the award winners at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final

GOLDEN BALL

Argentina captain Messi earned the Golden Ball, which is awarded to the best player of the tournament. Not only this, the football legend scored twice in the final and also took his tally of goals to 7

However, Kylian Mbappe came second, followed by Croatia captain Luka Modric in third in the Golden Ball race.

GOLDEN BOOT

Ahead of Messi, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final to win the award.

Both France’s target man Olivier Giroud and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez were tied in the third spot, having scored four goals each.

GOLDEN GLOVE

Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez cherished the Golden Glove, which was awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

YOUNG PLAYER AWARD

The “Young Player” award went to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez for a breakthrough tournament.

Year	Champion	Runner UP	Host
2022	Argentina	France	Qatar
2018	France	Croatia	Russia
2014	Germany	Argentina	Brazil
2010	Spain	Netherlands	South Africa
2006	Italy	France	Germany
2002	Brazil	Germany	South Korea, Japan
1998	France	Brazil	France
1994	Brazil	Italy	United States
1990	Germany	Argentina	Italy
1986	Argentina	Germany	Mexico
1982	Italy	Germany	Spain
1987	Argentina	Netherlands	Argentina
1974	Germany	Netherlands	Germany
1970	Brazil	Italy	Mexico
1966	England	Germany	England
1962	Brazil	Czechoslovakia	Chile
1958	Brazil	Sweden	Sweden
1954	Germany	Hungary	Switzerland
1950	Uruguay	Brazil	Brazil
1938	Italy	Hungary	France
1934	Italy	Czechoslovakia	Italy
1930	Uruguay	Argentina	Uruguay