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As it happened: Argentina prevail on penalties in epic clash with France at World Cup final

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As it happened: Argentina prevail on penalties in epic clash with France at World Cup final
1:31 PM ET

Of the 32 teams that came to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, only one could come out on top.

This game was loaded with history and legacy-making stakes. Both countries had won two World Cups in their history. France were trying to become the first country to win consecutive titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi is already the GOAT. The one thing missing from his trophy case was a World Cup title. This was likely his last chance at winning Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986 — and he delivered.

The final was played in Lusail. Here are the top moments and biggest plays from the World Cup final.

Your World Cup champions: Argentina

FINAL: Argentina defeat France on penalties to win the 2022 World Cup

This game was everything today. With the entire world watching and two of the sport’s biggest stars — and club teammates at Paris Saint-Germain — squaring off head-to-head for the title, these two teams delivered arguably the best World Cup final of all-time, and one that ended fittingly with the game’s greatest player, Lionel Messi, finally winning a World Cup.

That trophy was often held up as the one mark against him when it came to GOAT conversations, as if all his accomplishments with his club and individual milestones were in some ways negated by not winning the one trophy that requires endless luck to claim. The sport is littered with greats that never even got to play at a World Cup, let alone win one, such is the variance and fortune across the seven games you’d need to navigate in order to win it. At times, it felt as though he’d never win it, such was his misfortune or the sheer fact that they ran into a better team: in the end, 11 is better than one, right?

But here, he stepped up and answered the call time and again, even as they could have collapsed when Kylian Mbappe erased Argentina’s 2-0 lead in just 93 seconds towards the end of the second half. They kept pushing, they kept pressing and they didn’t let the wild swings in momentum deny them.

Credit too must go to Emi Martinez, who made endless crucial saves when it seemed as though France were destined to make Messi cry once again. Even in the shoot-out, Martinez was immense: Messi scored his spot-kick but Martinez made one save and was sure to smother Tchouameni’s effort had it not been blazing wide. All of which reinforces the point that this is a team game and for as good as Messi is, he needed help in Lusail on Sunday. And for once, in his 26th World Cup game and fifth appearance in the tournament — as well as his second World Cup final appearance — his teammates delivered.

History will remember this as Messi’s World Cup, but Argentina won that trophy together. — James Tyler

Penalties

Argentina score and win! Montiel’s penalty sends Lloris the wrong way and that’s it! Messi has his World Cup! Argentina win the World Cup!

France score, but still trail 3-2: Kolo Muani with an excellent penalty, high and up the middle, leaving Martinez no chance!

Argentina lead 3-1: Leandro Paredes sneaks his spot-kick under Lloris’ dive and while the keeper got a hand to it, it still has enough power to get in! They’re nearly there…

France MISS: Aurelien Tchouameni fires low to Martinez’s right and while he beats the outstretched hand of the keeper, he also misses the post! A big advantage for Argentina…

Argentina lead 2-1: Sub Paulo Dybala’s first action of the match is to sidefoot his penalty right down the middle, with Lloris diving vainly to his left.

France MISS: Coman fires it to Martinez’s right and this time, it’s close enough to him that the keeper can parry it away!

Argentina 1-1: Messi goes first and beats Lloris!

France 1-0: Mbappe thunders his to Martinez’s right and gets it beyond his hand

We are going to penalties! Argentina 3-3 France!

Two incredible saves at either end, with Lloris denying Lautaro Martinez and then Emi Martinez sprawling out to deny Kolo Muani, and we’re going to penalties! This is a cruel, cruel way for one of these teams to lose, but it’s been an incredible showpiece final worthy of any sport. I sincerely wish this game could last forever. — James Tyler

120th minute: [Breathes into paper bag]

Goal France! Mbappe completes hat trick, 3-3 in World Cup final

117th minute: Kylian Mbappe sends Lautaro Martinez the wrong way from the penalty spot, and it’s all tied again!

116th minute: PENALTY TO FRANCE! With minutes left between them and the World Cup title, Gonzalo Montiel put his arm in the way of a speculative shot from the edge of the box and it clearly whacks his arm. Referee immediately points to the spot. Up steps Mbappe… — Tyler

Goal! Argentina 3-2 France!

108th minute: Is that the strike to seal this for Messi? After another sharp Lloris save in extra time, Argentina work the ball forward to Lautaro Martinez, who plays a clever one-two with Messi. After another exchange of passes, Messi pounces on the loose ball to bundle it over the line after Lloris could only parry Martinez’s ferocious shot into the No. 10’s path.

While Jules Kounde blocks the ball back into play, it clearly crossed the goal-line and so goal awarded! After a brief VAR check to make sure Martinez was onside after the Messi pass, it’s given. Just 10 minutes to go! — Tyler

Extra time updates

105th minute: CHANCE FOR ARGENTINA! And Dayot Upamecano’s lunging tackle may have kept France in this World Cup. After great approach play by Mac Allister and Messi, the ball is slipped to substitute Lautaro Martinez with seemingly the entire goal to aim at from 12 yards out. Yet Upamecano throws himself in front of the shot, blocking it to safety, and France survive to reset.

Moments later, a long ball over the top catches France’s defense out and reaches Martinez, with just Lloris to beat. Yet Upamecano comes up big again to get a touch on the shot and steer it wide of goal. Incredible defending with what seemed like Argentina preparing to celebrate their third goal. — Tyler

98th minute: We’re nearly through the first 15-minute period of extra time and it’s extremely tense on the pitch in Lusail as neither France nor Argentina look prepared to over-commit and be caught out. The next goal could literally win this (though we thought this game was over at 2-0), and there’s a sense of caution in the overall patterns of play.

Argentina look exhausted while France have been galvanized by the pace of substitutions Kolo Muani and Coman in particular; equally, the presence of Mbappe in central areas is causing confusion for Argentina’s defenders. Rabiot is the next France player to be withdrawn: he’s worked tirelessly for Les Bleus today as Youssouf Fofana take his place in midfield. — Tyler

Final thoughts before full time: Argentina 2-2 France (we are getting bonus soccer)

In the span of one minute and 33 seconds, the entire game shifted beneath us. Two moments — a silly foul by Nicolás Otamendi, a brilliant volley by Kylian Mbappe — turned what was a comfortable coronation for Argentina into that sinking feeling that France are going to win this despite playing terribly for the other 88 minutes and 27 seconds in Lusail this Sunday morning. And yet that’s what makes soccer the best sport around: On the biggest stage, and in the biggest moments, the brightest stars come to play. Messi and Mbappe have both been there when their respective nations needed them; who has the composure and pose to win it from here? — Tyler

97th minute: What a save by Hugo Lloris! With Argentina having one more attack and the ball at Messi’s feet, his vicious 25-yard shot forces a brilliant parry from Lloris to keep it at 2-2.

94th minute: With just a minute or two left in added time, France are fully in the ascendancy and all the kind things I said about this Argentina team have evaporated. They are the ones looking tired and overwhelmed by the moment rather than France, who have had a couple of late opportunities denied by Emiliano Martinez. Kingsley Coman and Kolo Muani have been brilliant on the wings since coming on for France, and Argentina can’t seem to slow them down.

What?! Game on! Mbappe makes it 2-2!

82nd minute: And just like that, it’s all tied at two! With Argentina just 10 minutes from victory, Mbappe & Co. have leveled it in the span of one minute and 33 seconds. Messi loses possession in the Argentina half to French substitute Coman, the ball is worked quickly forward and after a clever bit of support play, the ball sits up neatly for Mbappe and he thumps it beyond Martinez on the volley.

What a goal. What a moment. What a bit of magic from Mbappe. And just like that, it’s tied at 2 with less than 10 minutes remaining. Get your popcorn … — James Tyler

Penalty for France, Mbappe scores! Argentina 2-1 France!

80th minute: Well, well, well, well, well, well! Barely 10 minutes after France’s first shot on goal, they have a penalty after Randal Kolo Muani (one of the infamous first-half subs) beats Nicolas Otamendi for speed down the left side, muscles into the box and is hauled down for an obvious spot-kick. Up steps Mbappe, and he thunders it beyond Martinez. Game on! — Tyler

No looks for Les Bleus

71st minute: Kylian Mbappe takes France’s first shot on goal. We’re more than three-quarters of the way through the 2022 World Cup final.

Argentina fans are feelin’ it

How much does it mean? These fans made it pretty clear when Messi and Di Maria delivered in the first half.

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