2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar: Argentina beat France in ‘one of the greatest finals’ ever
Lionel Messi finally achieves his dream – and is also named the tournament’s best player
- 1. Top scorer: Mbappé wins the golden boot
- 2. The eight World Cup stadiums
- 3. Group A: how it finished
- 4. Group B: how it finished
- 5. Group C: how it finished
- 6. Group D: how it finished
- 7. Group E: how it finished
- 8. Group F: how it finished
- 9. Group G: how it finished
- 10. Group H: how it finished
- 11. Round of 16: qualifiers and results
- 12. Quarter-final results
- 13. Semi-final results
- 14. Third-place play-off: Croatia win the bronze
- 15. 2022 Fifa World Cup final: Argentina lift the trophy
Argentina 3 France 3 (after extra time – Argentina won 4-2 on penalties)
The 2022 Fifa World Cup final – the Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé show – will go down in history as an all-time classic after an epic encounter at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Going into the game, the showpiece fixture was billed as a battle between two of the world’s, and the tournament’s, best two players – and the duo did not disappoint. Messi scored two, Mbappé scored three and it took a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner of what was described as “one of the greatest finals in the tournament’s history”, said Phil McNulty on the BBC.
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Argentina stormed into a two-goal lead within 36 minutes thanks to Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s finish, which came from a free-flowing counter-attack. But with ten minutes remaining defending champions France were given a lifeline with a penalty, which Mbappé scored. Then a minute later the French striker volleyed a magnificent equaliser to send the game into extra-time.
On 108 minutes Messi netted his second to once again put Argentina in the lead. But Mbappé was not finished yet as with two minutes left in extra-time he scored another penalty to complete his hat-trick and become the first player to score a World Cup treble since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.
In the shoot-out Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman, while French midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni hit his penalty wide. It was left to Gonzalo Montiel to win a third World Cup for Argentina – and for Messi to finally achieve his career dream.
At the fifth time of asking, Messi not only “emulated the deity of Argentinian football”, Diego Maradona, but he “finally plugged the burning gap on his CV”, winning the “one title that has eluded him”, said David Hytner in The Guardian. As well as lifting the trophy, Argentina’s brilliant captain was also awarded the golden ball for the tournament’s best player.
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For Mbappé, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, his hat-trick meant that he finished Qatar 2022 with eight goals – and he was awarded the golden boot.
1. Top scorer: Mbappé wins the golden boot
8 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France): 2 assists, 597 minutes played
7 goals
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 3 assists, 690 minutes played
4 goals
- Olivier Giroud (France): 0 assists, 424 minutes played
- Julian Alvarez (Argentina): 0 assists, 466 minutes played
3 goals
- Goncalo Ramos (Portugal)
- Alvaro Morata (Spain)
- Marcus Rashford (England)
- Enner Valencia (Ecuador)
- Bukayo Saka (England)
- Richarlison (Brazil)
- Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
2. The eight World Cup stadiums
Lusail Stadium
- Where: Lusail, nine miles north of Doha
- Capacity: 80,000
- Matches: ten, including the final
Al Bayt Stadium
- Where: Al Khor, 21.7 miles north of Doha
- Capacity: 60,000
- Matches: nine, including the opening game
Khalifa International Stadium
- Where: Doha
- Capacity: 45,416
- Matches: eight, including third-place play-off
Education City Stadium
- Where: Al Rayyan, 4.3 miles west of Doha
- Capacity: 40,000
- Matches: eight, up to quarter-final
Al Thumama Stadium
- Where: 7.4 miles south of Doha
- Capacity: 40,000
- Matches: eight, up to quarter-final
Stadium 974
- Where: Doha
- Capacity: 40,000
- Matches: seven, up to the round of 16
Al Janoub Stadium
- Where: Al Wakrah, 11 miles south of Doha
- Capacity: 40,000
- Matches: seven, up to the round of 16
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
- Where: Al Rayyan, 12.4 miles west of Doha
- Capacity: 40,000
- Matches: seven, up to the round of 16
Qatar’s Fifa World Cup stadiums – in pictures
3. Group A: how it finished
After a dramatic final round of games in group A, the Netherlands and Senegal are through to the 2022 Fifa World Cup knockout stages.
Ecuador had started the day in the qualifying spots, but a 2-1 defeat against Senegal meant the west Africans finished in second place. The Dutch topped the group after beating host nation Qatar 2-0.
In the round of 16 on Saturday the Netherlands will face the USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. Senegal will take on England at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
Final table
Results
Sunday 20 November
- Qatar 0 Ecuador 2
Monday 21 November
- Senegal 0 Netherlands 2
Friday 25 November
- Qatar 1 Senegal 3
- Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1
Tuesday 29 November
- Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
- Ecuador 1 Senegal 2
4. Group B: how it finished
England will play Senegal in the Fifa World Cup round of 16 on Sunday after finishing top of group B. In their final game of the group stage the Three Lions were 3-0 winners over British rivals Wales.
The USA join England in the knockouts after beating Iran 1-0. They will now play the Netherlands in the round of 16 on Saturday.
Final table
Results
Monday 21 November
Friday 25 November
Tuesday 29 November
- Wales 0 England 3
- Iran 0 USA 1
5. Group C: how it finished
There was World Cup heartbreak for Mexico as Argentina and Poland secured the qualifying spots from group C. Mexico were 2-1 victors over Saudi Arabia, but missed out on second place to Poland on goal difference.
Argentina finished top of the group after their 2-0 win over Poland. Although Lionel Messi missed a penalty, second-half goals from Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez gave Argentina the win.
In the round of 16 on Saturday Argentina will take on Australia at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Poland will face holders France on Sunday at Al Thumama Stadium.
Final table
Results
Tuesday 22 November
- Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2
- Mexico 0 Poland 0
Saturday 26 November
- Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 0
- Argentina 2 Mexico 0
Wednesday 30 November
- Poland 0 Argentina 2
- Saudi Arabia 1 Mexico 2
6. Group D: how it finished
Australia’s 1-0 victory over Denmark means they have qualified for the Fifa World Cup round of 16. Mathew Leckie scored the winning goal on the hour mark to secure second place in group D. Holders France won the group despite losing 1-0 to Tunisia.
In the last-16 on Saturday Australia will play Argentina at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. France will take on Poland at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.
Final table
Results
Tuesday 22 November
- Denmark 0 Tunisia 0
- France 4 Australia 1
Saturday 26 November
- Tunisia 0 Australia 1
- France 2 Denmark 1
Wednesday 30 November
- Tunisia 1 France 0
- Australia 1 Denmark 0
7. Group E: how it finished
It was a dramatic last round of matches in group E with Japan and Spain qualifying for the round of 16. At certain points during the finale, all four teams found themselves in the top two spots, but in the end Japan’s 2-1 victory over Spain meant they both went through.
Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2, but it was in vain as they crashed out at the group stage for the second World Cup in succession.
In the round of 16 Japan will play Croatia on Monday at the Al Janoub Stadium. Spain will face Morocco on Tuesday at the Education City Stadium.
Final table
Results
Wednesday 23 November
- Germany 1 Japan 2
- Spain 7 Costa Rica 0
Sunday 27 November
- Japan 0 Costa Rica 1
- Spain 1 Germany 1
Thursday 1 December
- Japan 2 Spain 1
- Costa Rica 2 Germany 4
8. Group F: how it finished
Morocco and Croatia qualified as the top two teams from group F – which meant that Belgium, the world’s No.2-ranked team, were knocked out of the World Cup along with Canada. The final round of group games saw Morocco beat Canada 2-1 while Croatia and Belgium ended goalless.
In the round of 16 on Monday Croatia will play the winners of group E at Al Janoub Stadium, while on Tuesday Morocco will play the group E runners-up at Education City Stadium.
Final table
Results
Wednesday 23 November
- Morocco 0 Croatia 0
- Belgium 1 Canada 0
Sunday 27 November
- Belgium 0 Morocco 2
- Croatia 4 Canada 1
Thursday 1 December
- Croatia 0 Belgium 0
- Canada 1 Morocco 2
9. Group G: how it finished
Switzerland beat Serbia 3-2 to finish second in group G and join Brazil in the round of 16. Brazil topped the group on goal difference, despite losing 1-0 in their final game against Cameroon.
As well as losing their last group game, Brazil have also been hit by a double injury blow with striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Alex Telles both being ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with right knee injuries.
In the round of 16 Brazil will play South Korea on Monday at Stadium 974. While Switzerland face Portugal on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium.
Final table
Results
Thursday 24 November
- Switzerland 1 Cameroon 0
- Brazil 2 Serbia 0
Monday 28 November
- Cameroon 3 Serbia 3
- Brazil 1 Switzerland 0
Friday 2 December
- Cameroon 1 Brazil 0
- Serbia 2 Switzerland 2
10. Group H: how it finished
Hwang Hee-Chan was the South Korean hero after his 90th-minute winner against Portugal saw his country secure a place in the World Cup round of 16. Despite the 2-1 defeat Portugal finished top of group H, but thanks to their late win South Korea edged out Uruguay on goals scored. Ghana finished bottom after losing 2-0 to Uruguay.
In the round of 16 South Korea will play Brazil on Monday at the Stadium 974, while Portugal will face Switzerland on Tuesday at Lusail Stadium.
Final table
Results
Thursday 24 November
- Uruguay 0 South Korea 0
- Portugal 3 Ghana 2
Monday 28 November
- South Korea 2 Ghana 3
- Portugal 2 Uruguay 0
Friday 2 December
- South Korea 2 Portugal 1
- Ghana 0 Uruguay 2
11. Round of 16: qualifiers and results
Who qualified?
- Group A: Netherlands and Senegal
- Group B: England and USA
- Group C: Argentina and Poland
- Group D: France and Australia
- Group E: Japan and Spain
- Group F: Morocco and Croatia
- Group G: Brazil and Switzerland
- Group H: Portugal and South Korea
Results
Saturday 3 December
- Match 49: Netherlands 3 USA 1
- Match 50: Argentina 2 Australia 1
Sunday 4 December
- Match 51: France 3 Poland 1
- Match 52: England 3 Senegal 0
Monday 5 December
- Match 53: Japan 1 Croatia 1 (after extra-time – Croatia won 3-1 on penalties)
- Match 54: Brazil 4 South Korea 1
Tuesday 6 December
- Match 55: Morocco 0 Spain 0 (after extra-time – Morocco won 3-0 on penalties)
- Match 56: Portugal 6 Switzerland 1
12. Quarter-final results
Friday 9 December
- Match 57: Croatia 1 Brazil 1 (after extra-time – Croatia won 4-2 on penalties)
- Match 58: Netherlands 2 Argentina 2 (after extra-time – Argentina won 4-3 on penalties)
Saturday 10 December
- Match 59: Morocco 1 Portugal 0
- Match 60: England 1 France 2
13. Semi-final results
Tuesday 13 December
- Match 61: Argentina 3 Croatia 0
Wednesday 14 December
- Match 62: France 2 Morocco 0
14. Third-place play-off: Croatia win the bronze
Saturday 17 December
- Match 63: Croatia 2 Morocco 1
- Where: Khalifa International Stadium
In the third-place play-off Croatia secured the Qatar 2022 bronze medal with a 2-1 victory over Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan. Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead after seven minutes but Morocco were level just two minutes later through Achraf Dari. Mislav Orsic’s excellent strike just before half-time proved to be the winner for the 2018 runners-up.
Speaking after the match Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic said that the bronze medal “has a golden layer” and it is like “we have won the gold medal”. He added: “Fighting for the third place play-off and losing would have been a disaster. This is the end of a cycle, end of a journey. My players spared no efforts and these are what we work for.”
15. 2022 Fifa World Cup final: Argentina lift the trophy
Sunday 18 December
- Match 64: Argentina 3 France 3 (after extra time – Argentina won 4-2 on penalties)
- Where: Lusail Stadium
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.