Jan. 7, 2023
By Maksym Dmochowski
Staff Writer
In a month that felt like a minute, the 2022 World Cup is now over, with Argentina coming away with the trophy for the third time in FIFA’s history.
The final between France and Argentina, which took place on Dec. 18, was the greatest soccer match in the history of the sport. After the first 90 minutes of regulation, the game was tied 2-2. France winger Kylian Mbappe scored two goals back-to-back in the 80th and 81st minutes to tie the game at two apiece.
In extra time, Lionel Messi, who is known as the greatest player to ever touch a soccer ball, scored in the 108th minute to give Argentina a 3-2 lead. However, it didn’t end there. Mbappe scored a penalty kick in the 118th minute to tie the game back up at three. And with that goal, Mbappe became legendary, achieving the first hat trick in a FIFA World Cup final since 1966.
In the 123rd minute of the match, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez made a beautiful leg save, which was the best save of all time.
With a World Cup trophy, there is not a single thing in the sport Messi has not accomplished, whether it’s winning team awards or individual ones.
For the third time in history, the final went to penalty kicks. Argentina put away all four kicks that it took, and with France only converting two, Argentina won with a final score of 3-3 after full time and 4-2 on penalties.
Thirty-five-year-old Messi of Argentina, who won the Man of the Tournament Award, has completed the sport of soccer. He has done it all at the club level as well as the international level. With a World Cup trophy, there is not a single thing in the sport Messi has not accomplished, whether it’s winning team awards or individual ones.
However, Mbappe of France should not be overlooked. At just 23 years old, he won the Golden Boot of the tournament and has competed in two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 when he was just 19 years old.
Mbappe has one of, if not the most, bright futures in the sport. He is already one of the best in the world at what he does, and if he can keep this type of form throughout his career, he could be alongside Messi as one of the all-time greats in the sport.
