On this day three years ago, the Argentina national team won the World Cup.
December 18, 2022 was the final of the World Cup. A repeat of the Round of 16 match four years prior between Argentina and France.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni put out the following starting eleven for the match at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar:
Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Ángel Di María
The Argentina national team were awarded a penalty kick after Ángel Di María was tripped inside the penalty area. Lionel Messi took the penalty kick and scored in the World Cup final to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
Minutes later, it was the goal of the World Cup as Alexis Mac Allister played the final pass to Ángel Di María who scored, once more in a final, this time in the biggest match.
Lionel Scaloni’s team were in control of the match until 10 minutes from the end. France were awarded a penalty kick, Kylian Mbappé would score it and 90 seconds later he would draw France level.
The match went to extra time and with both sides having chances to score, it was Lionel Messi who scored to give Argentina the 3-2 lead. But like the initial 2-0 lead, France would equalize.
Kylian Mbappé would score a third goal and it was 3-3 in extra time. More chances from both sides but no goals.
In one of the last kicks of the game, Randal Kolo Muani was one on one with Emiliano Martínez but his effort was saved by the Argentine who pulled off the save of the century. Mbappé had one more chance inside the penalty area but it was cleared by Paulo Dybala.
The World Cup final would go to penalty kicks. Kylian Mbappé would score his and Lionel Messi would roll the ball into the goal.
Emiliano Martínez would do what he did at the 2021 Copa America and previously at the World Cup against the Netherlands. He would make a save in the penalty shootout, saving Kingsley Coman’s effort.
Paulo Dybala would kick and score down the middle to solidify Argentina’s 2-1 lead in the shootout. Emiliano Martínez would get the ball before Aurélien Tchouaméni’s shot and he would throw it to the side, forcing Tchouaméni to go get the ball.
Tchouaméni would miss the goal as his effort would go wide and Argentina would be leading two spot kicks to one. Emiliano Martínez had played the mind games and won once more.
Leandro Paredes was next for Argentina and he would do as he did against Colombia in the penalty shootout at the 2021 Copa America and as he did in the quarter finals against the Netherlands, he would score his penalty kick. Randal Kolo Muani was next for France and he would score his penalty kick.
Gonzalo Montiel had the last penalty kick in the World Cup final. He would take it, going to the right of Hugo Lloris and Lloris would go to the left and Montiel would score.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and crowned Champions. Argentina made it three trophies in a year and a half and had now won three FIFA World Cups.
