On Dec. 18, 2022, Argentina won the men’s World Cup in the most dramatic way possible, beating France in a penalty shootout after a breathless 3-3 draw in Lusail, Qatar.
The game was an instant classic, one of the best finals anyone could remember, packed with unforgettable moments. Lionel Messi delivered on the biggest stage of all, exorcising the ghosts of his 2014 heartbreak when Argentina were beaten finalists in the World Cup in Brazil. France’s Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick but still ended up on the losing side. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez starred with a jaw-dropping, last-gasp added time stop from France’s Randal Kolo Muani before saving twice in the decisive shootout.
The win gave Argentina a third World Cup winners’ star on their shirts, following victories in 1978 and 1986. Only Brazil (with five), Italy (four) and Germany (four) have more. It also helped Messi live up to the legacy of the football-obsessed country’s other great hero — and architect of their 1986 triumph — Diego Maradona.
The drama of the final was a fitting end to Argentina’s roller-coaster progress through the tournament. It started with a surprise 2-1 opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, bouncing back with nail-biting group-stage victories against Mexico and Poland, and then knockout stage wins over Australia, Netherlands — in another shootout — and 2018 finalists Croatia.
Alvarez’s first goal is the result of a run that began just inside the Croatia half; his second follows one of the moves of the tournament, a mazy Messi dribble that twists defender Josko Gvardiol back and forth, before setting up Alvarez for a tap-in.
Julian Alvarez: I think it was my best game for the national team. When I scored the [first] goal, I didn’t even remember that I’d started from so far out. Later I watched it. I got a bit of luck, but it’s a great goal.
De Paul: People say that the game against Croatia was easier than against France [in the final] or Netherlands. But the reality is that, over the course of the game, we were just as comfortable in all three games. We were always better.
Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 penalties)
Dec. 18, 2022. The World Cup final.
Alvarez: I remember talking to Enzo [Fernandez], saying, “We’re going to play a World Cup final.” He was anxious for the game to arrive. But I wasn’t. I wanted the game to be over. I almost didn’t want to play.
Emi Martinez: My dad was saying do things well, don’t overplay it, don’t make mistakes. Everyone was afraid of making a mistake, but I was thinking just the opposite. I’m going to play like I’ve played all my life, without fear, with confidence. Whatever happens, I’m playing a World Cup final.
Messi: I didn’t want to even look at the trophy. They say you don’t look at it, you don’t touch it. So I didn’t, just in case.
Coach Scaloni — as he had done throughout the tournament — tweaks his team again, starting Di Maria on the left wing. Di Maria rewards his manager by providing the final touch to a lightning-quick counter attack, making it 2-0 in the 36th minute after Messi had put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot.
Messi: Our counterattack was amazing. So fast. It was a great goal.
Di Maria: It was a spectacular move between three players, with one or two touches, as if they were playing in their neighbourhood. Inexplicable. Incredible.
Argentina look to be heading for a straightforward win, until two goals in two minutes from Mbappé make it 2-2, forcing extra time.
Julian Alvarez: When we made it 3-2, I said ‘Well that’s that, nothing else is going to happen.’ We were on the bench, watching the clock. [Angel] Di Maria was crying. And then they scored, and he was still crying.
Incredibly, that wasn’t that. In the 116th minute, France are awarded a penalty for handball, and Mbappé converts to make it 3-3, though there was still time for one more moment of unbearable tension. In the 123rd minute — seconds from a penalty shootout — France substitute Kolo Muani finds himself through on goal. His shot is low and powerful, headed for the bottom corner. Emi Martinez sticks out a long leg, and makes the save.
Mac Allister: I think I was one of the only ones who reacted. They were all in shock. Nobody could believe it.
De Paul: I didn’t see it, thank god. I was sat down, with ice on my leg… I saw [the save] two or three days later. I couldn’t believe it. It’s iconic. It’s a moment that will go down in history.
Otamendi: I realised I wasn’t going to get there [to the ball]. I tried to clear it with my toes. But then the left foot of ‘the beast’ [Martinez] saved it. I think our hearts stopped… Argentinians live to suffer. It had to be that way.
Emi Martinez: If I come further off my line, he’d chip me. If I stay on my line, he has the whole goal to aim at. I stayed somewhere in between. He says, “If I control it, he takes it off me, I can’t go over him, so I’ll hit it.” I leave him that space, and when he hits it, I spread myself and I block it. It could have gone in, if the shot was anywhere else it was a goal. And that’s luck. I gambled… It could have gone in, or not. But it stopped here [pointing at his leg].
