The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final was played on 18 December 2022 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, concluding the 22nd edition of FIFA’s premier men’s football tournament. The match, contested between Argentina and defending champions France, ended in a 3–3 draw after extra time, with Argentina winning 4–2 on penalties to claim their third World Cup title.
The final was watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide, making it one of the most-watched sporting events in history. It has since been hailed by football fans and pundits as one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played, showcasing a dramatic duel between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Background
Argentina entered the tournament as two-time World Cup winners (1978, 1986) but had not lifted the trophy since Diego Maradona’s triumph in Mexico. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina rebounded from an opening shock defeat to Saudi Arabia and advanced to the final powered by Messi’s brilliance and a young supporting cast including Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández.
France, the defending champions from 2018, aimed to become the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962. Managed by Didier Deschamps, France overcame injuries to key players and relied heavily on Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, and Olivier Giroud to reach their second consecutive final.
The final also marked the second World Cup meeting between the two nations in a row, following France’s 4–3 victory over Argentina in 2018.
Venue
The match was played at the Lusail Stadium, a newly constructed venue in Lusail, located about 15 km north of Doha. With a seating capacity of 88,966, it was the largest stadium of the tournament and hosted the final as planned in Qatar’s original World Cup bid.
Route to the Final
Argentina
- Lost 2–1 to Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
- Defeated Mexico 2–0 and Poland 2–0 to top Group C.
- Beat Australia 2–1 in the Round of 16.
- Defeated the Netherlands on penalties (4–3) after a 2–2 draw in the quarter-finals.
- Outclassed Croatia 3–0 in the semi-finals.
France
- Defeated Australia 4–1 and Denmark 2–1, but lost 1–0 to Tunisia in Group D.
- Beat Poland 3–1 in the Round of 16.
- Defeated England 2–1 in the quarter-finals.
- Ended Morocco’s fairytale run with a 2–0 semi-final win.
Match Summary
First Half
Argentina dominated early. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a penalty after Ángel Di María was fouled. Di María then finished a swift counterattack in the 36th minute to make it 2–0. France, struggling to find rhythm, made early substitutions but failed to register a shot on target before halftime.
Second Half
Argentina looked set for victory until Kylian Mbappé produced a sensational comeback. He scored a penalty in the 80th minute, then added a stunning volley just 97 seconds later to level the match at 2–2.
Extra Time
Messi restored Argentina’s lead in the 108th minute, finishing from close range. Yet France equalized again in the 118th minute when Mbappé converted another penalty, completing his hat-trick — only the second in World Cup final history after Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Penalty Shootout
- Messi, Dybala, Paredes, and Montiel scored for Argentina.
- Mbappé scored for France, but Kingsley Coman’s penalty was saved and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed, giving Argentina a 4–2 win.
Key Performances
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): Scored twice, converted his penalty in the shootout, and was named Man of the Match. He also won the Golden Ball, becoming the first player to win it twice.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): Scored a historic hat-trick and won the Golden Boot with eight goals, the most in a World Cup since 2002.
- Emiliano Martínez (Argentina): Made crucial saves in extra time and penalties, winning the Golden Glove award.
Legacy
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in football history, blending drama, individual brilliance, and emotional intensity.
- Argentina secured their third World Cup title (1978, 1986, 2022).
- Messi cemented his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
- Mbappé became the highest-scoring player in World Cup finals history with four goals across two finals (2018 and 2022).
- The six goals in the match contributed to the tournament’s record 172 total goals.
The final also sparked mass celebrations in Argentina, with millions taking to the streets, while in France, disappointment was mixed with pride for their team’s resilience.
