The best World Cup final of all time The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France on December 18, 2022, became one of the greatest and most dramatic finals in football history. Argentina entered the match with Lionel Messi playing in his final World Cup, while France were trying to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win the World Cup twice in a row. From the first minute, the match had an intensity that made it feel different from an ordinary final. Argentina started strongly and controlled much of the first half. Messi was heavily involved in their attacks, constantly dropping deeper to receive the ball and helping Argentina move forward. In the 23rd minute, Ángel Di María won a penalty after being brought down inside the box. Messi stepped up and calmly sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way, giving Argentina a 1–0 lead. The goal was especially important because Messi had now scored in every round of the tournament. Argentina continued to dominate, and their second goal came in the 36th minute. A quick passing move ended with Alexis Mac Allister finding Di María on the left side of the penalty area. Di María finished with a beautiful shot across Lloris, making it 2–0. France looked shocked, while Argentina looked completely in control. At halftime, Argentina had a two-goal advantage and seemed to be heading toward a comfortable victory. But the final changed completely in the second half. France began pushing forward and Argentina suddenly had to defend much more than they had earlier in the match. With around ten minutes remaining, France were awarded a penalty after Nicolás Otamendi brought down Randal Kolo Muani. Kylian Mbappé stepped up and scored, giving France hope at 2–1. Only 97 seconds later, Mbappé scored again. Marcus Thuram played the ball toward him, and Mbappé struck a spectacular volley from outside the box that flew past Emiliano Martínez. In just a few minutes, France had turned a 2–0 deficit into a 2–2 draw. Argentina had been completely in control, but suddenly the World Cup final was heading toward extra time. Extra time became another battle. Both teams had chances, and the tension continued to grow. Messi came close to scoring again, while France remained dangerous whenever Mbappé received the ball. In the second period of extra time, Argentina finally found another breakthrough. Lautaro Martínez had a shot saved, but Messi reacted first to the rebound and fired the ball toward goal. The ball crossed the line before France cleared it, giving Argentina a 3–2 lead. France refused to give up. In the 116th minute, Mbappé's shot struck the arm of Gonzalo Montiel inside the penalty area, and France were awarded another penalty. Mbappé stepped up once again and completed his hat-trick, making it 3–3. It was only the second hat-trick ever scored in a men's World Cup final, and the first since Geoff Hurst in 1966. The final minutes were unbelievable. Kolo Muani found himself one-on-one with Martínez and had a huge chance to win the World Cup for France. Martínez made one of the most important saves in World Cup history, stretching out his leg and stopping the shot. The match finished 3–3 after extra time, meaning the World Cup champion would be decided by penalties. In the shootout, Messi scored Argentina's first penalty. Mbappé also scored for France, but Martínez saved Kingsley Coman's penalty. Aurélien Tchouaméni then missed, while Argentina continued to convert their chances. Gonzalo Montiel eventually stepped up for the decisive penalty and scored. Argentina had won the World Cup. For Messi, the victory completed the one achievement that had been missing from his career. He finished the tournament with seven goals and was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. For Argentina, it was their third World Cup title and their first since 1986. The match had everything: goals, comebacks, penalties, extra time, individual brilliance,#mbappe🇫🇷 #mbappe #kylianmbappe #worldcup2022 - @nexoredits0