World Cup 2022: Argentina around Lionel Messi beats France and becomes world champion

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Now he has won everything: Lionel Messi celebrates his goal to make it 1-0

Photo:

CARL RECINE / REUTERS

Argentina is soccer world champion for the third time.

The South Americans defeated France on penalties.

After 120 gripping minutes it was 3:3 (2:0, 2:2, 3:3).

Lionel Messi crowns his career with his first world title.

Messi gave the strong Argentines the lead with a penalty kick (23'), Ángel Di María increased it (36').

Argentina had everything under control for a long time, little came from France on the offensive.

But then Kylian Mbappé turned it up, scored the goal with a penalty kick (80th) and then equalized the game (82nd).

Messi then scored again in extra time (109th), before Mbappé equalized again with a hand penalty (118th).

Argentina was clearly the better team from the start and squeezed the French at the back.

Alexis Mac Allister tried it from outside the penalty area, but France keeper Hugo Lloris saved the central shot safely (4').

Rodrigo de Paul's attempt was blocked (8'), Di María shot well over it (16').

France were extremely deep and seemed to want to rely on their counterattack.

The balls in the top to Kylian Mbappé or Ousmane Dembélé did not come through.

The South Americans took the lead with a penalty.

Di María pulled into the box from the left, Dembélé followed him and lightly touched his legs.

Di María gratefully accepted the contact and fell.

Messi then grabbed the ball, wisely delayed the run-up and pushed in the bottom right (23').

It was already the sixth goal in the current tournament - and his twelfth World Cup goal in total.

With that, Messi drew level with Diego Maradona.

Argentina counters France

Otherwise, Messi once again showed an outstanding performance.

He threw himself into the duels in midfield and repeatedly initiated the Argentine attacks.

Like in the 36th minute, when France had moved up a bit and the French countered at lightning speed.

Messi passed the ball on the halfway line to Julián Álvarez, who played a perfect through ball to Mac Allister.

The midfielder moved towards the penalty area at high speed and passed it over to Di María, who lobbed the ball over Lloris, who was lying on the ground (36').

After that, France coach Didier Deschamps seemed fed up with his side's lifeless performance and made two substitutions before half-time.

Dembélé and Olivier Giroud had to leave, while Bundesliga pros Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt) came on (41').

The French game didn't get any better in the second half either, which was mainly due to the passionately defending Argentines, who also remained more dangerous offensively.

De Paul tried a volley, but Lloris parried it (49').

A few minutes later, Messi shot just wide (60th).

Mbappé came through for the first time in the 71st minute when he dribbled in from the left but fired well over the goal from around 16 yards out.

It was the first finish for the French, who then dared a little more forward.

A short time later, Kolo Muani moved into the penalty area and was fouled by Nicolás Otamendi.

Mbappé converted the penalty due on the bottom left (80th), it was the French's first shot on goal.

The surprising goal gave the French a tailwind, suddenly they took part in the attacking game - and scored the equaliser.

Substitute Kingsley Coman won the ball against Messi, Adrien Rabiot crossed into the penalty area.

Mbappé headed Thuram, who alluded to Mbappé again in the penalty area.

The superstar didn't miss the chance and made it 2:2 (82nd).

France turned the game upside down within minutes.

An open exchange of blows then developed, shortly before the end Messi took another shot, Lloris steered the ball over the goal (90 + 7).

The French looked fresher in extra time, but Argentina had the better chances – but Dayot Upamecano saved twice.

The defender first blocked a long-range shot by Lautaro Martínez (105'), then he stole the ball from the attacker (105'+1').

Lionel Messi then scored the next goal.

Argentina countered, Martínez failed at Lloris from close range before Messi pushed the follow-up shot over the line (109th).

The game was not decided yet: Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel touched the ball in the penalty area with his hand.

Mbappé (118th) converted the penalty due with his third goal of the evening.

After 120 minutes, the decision was made on penalties.

kyo