You may still be holding your breath after the final between Argentina and France. It wasn’t the usual guarded football we see when two teams compete for the ultimate football prize.
It’s also not common to see the top two players, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, really take the final by the throat and lead their team to the end.
This final had it all. There were goals from the starter, a double from Messi and a hat-trick from Mbappé, and drama until the last minute of extra time.
After Argentina went up 2-0 at halftime, the game seemed over. Argentina were in control and had their foot at the throat of the French until Mbappé scored two in two minutes to send the match into extra time.
Messi scored again in extra time, but Mbappé equalized from the penalty spot to make it 3-3 and send it to a penalty shootout. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties to take the trophy to Buenos Aires.
He summed up what the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been all about. Since the start of the tournament, the unpredictable nature of football has continued to show itself and reached its climax on Sunday.
After their shocking loss against Saudi Arabia in their opening match, no one would have predicted that Argentina would play the most dominant football in the tournament and ultimately win it.
Argentina is world champion for the third time in its history. Messi has finally done what Mario Kempes did in 1978 and the late, great Diego Maradona did in 1986. No hand of God was required this time, just the magic that came from the boots of the greatest footballer of all time.
