Argentina win the World Cup

 

𝑨𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔! 𝑳𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆

Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalty kicks after a thrilling 3-3 draw which saw Lionel Messi score twice and Kylian Mbappe score a hat-trick.

Argentina have won the World Cup for the first time since 1986!

Messi finally gets the trophy he's so sorely desired, joining Maradona in Argentinian folklore.

France are denied the chance to become the first team in 60 years to repeat as champions.

Argentina vs France Head-to-Head

Played: 12

Argentina wins: 6

France wins: 3

Draw: 3

Both sides met again in the 1978 World Cup, that was being hosted in Argentina. It was yet another group stage match, where Argentina beat France 2-1 to knock it out of the tournament. Daniel Passarella scored for an Argentina lead in the first-half but Michel Platini equalised for France in the 61st minute. In the second-half, Leopoldi Luque’s goal in the 74th minute turned out to be the match winner.

The last time both the sides met was in the Russia World Cup in 2018. It was a Round of 16 match, where France edged out a 4-3 win.

Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 13th minute after converting from the spot. However, Argentina bounced back after quick goals from Angel Di Maria and Gabriel Mercado in the 41st and 48th minute to give a lead to Argentina. But Benjamin Pavard scored the ‘goal of the tournament’ with a sumptuous volley to make it 2-2. Kylian Mbappe scored two quick goals in the 64th and 68th minute to make ti 4-2 for France. Sergio Aguero scored late in third third minute of second-half added time but France held on to clinch the win.

The statistics were clear. Losing the first game in group play makes it almost impossible to advance to the knockout round. Not only would Argentina advance, it won the group and kept winning and never stopped.

Now, with a 3-3 (4-2 penalty kick shootout) victory over defending champion France, Lionel Messi can call himself a World Cup champion in what was probably his final World Cup match. It's Argentina's third title and those early whispers have been replaced by tears and cheers.