As Lionel Messi prepares for another shot at FIFA World Cup glory in 2026, football fans continue to look back at the unforgettable night that completed his legendary career.
On December 18, 2022, Argentina defeated France in one of the greatest FIFA World Cup finals ever played. The match had everything—moments of brilliance, a dramatic comeback, extra-time goals, a penalty shootout and a goalkeeper's save that changed football history.
After 120 unforgettable minutes ended 3-3, Argentina held their nerve to win the penalty shootout 4-2, lifting the World Cup trophy for the first time since 1986 and giving Messi the only major title that had eluded him throughout his glittering career.
A World Cup that began with shock and ended with history
Argentina's road to the title was anything but straightforward.
Lionel Scaloni's side suffered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when Saudi Arabia defeated them 2-1 in the opening match. Suddenly, every remaining game became a knockout contest.
Scaloni responded by constantly reshaping his team. Argentina switched formations several times during the tournament, moving between a 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and even a 5-3-2 depending on the opposition.
The tactical flexibility became one of Argentina's greatest strengths.
Young midfielder Enzo Fernandez emerged as a key figure after not starting the opening matches. Alexis Mac Allister cemented his place in midfield, while Julian Alvarez replaced Lautaro Martinez up front and provided the relentless pressing and movement that perfectly complemented Messi's creativity.
By the time the final arrived, Argentina looked like a completely different team from the one that had stumbled against Saudi Arabia.
A true squad effort all the way to the title
Argentina's World Cup triumph wasn't built around one player alone.
Scaloni used 24 different players during the tournament, with only reserve goalkeepers Franco Armani and Geronimo Rulli not seeing any minutes on the field.
The introduction of five substitutions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup allowed every member of the squad to contribute, making Argentina's victory one of the strongest examples of collective teamwork in recent tournament history.
The World Cup final that had four different stories in one game
The final against France unfolded like four separate matches.
Part 1: Argentina completely dominated France
Argentina started brilliantly.
Scaloni made one of the boldest decisions of the tournament by bringing Angel Di Maria back into the starting lineup after injury. Instead of deploying him on his usual right wing, he placed him on the left.
The move transformed the game.
Di Maria's dribble forced Ousmane Dembele into conceding a penalty, which Messi calmly converted.
Not long afterwards, Di Maria finished a flowing team move at the far post to double Argentina's lead.
At 2-0, France looked completely overwhelmed.
Part 2: Argentina looked comfortable
For nearly 45 minutes, Argentina controlled the match.
France coach Didier Deschamps made two first-half substitutions in an attempt to change the momentum, but Argentina remained composed and appeared to be cruising towards the title.
Then everything changed.
Part 3: Kylian Mbappe produced one of football's greatest comebacks
Out of nowhere, France came alive.
Substitute Randal Kolo Muani won a penalty, and Kylian Mbappe converted to make it 2-1.
Just one minute later, Mbappe combined with Marcus Thuram before firing home a stunning volley.
Within 120 seconds, France had erased Argentina's two-goal lead.
The World Cup final had been turned on its head.
Part 4: Extra time delivered pure football drama
The final entered extra time with tension at its highest.
Messi appeared to have won the World Cup when he scored his second goal of the night to restore Argentina's lead.
But Mbappe refused to surrender.
The French superstar completed his remarkable hat-trick by converting another penalty, making it 3-3 and becoming only the second player in history to score three goals in a men's World Cup final.
Every attack looked capable of producing the winning goal. Emiliano Martinez produced perhaps the greatest save in World Cup history
The defining moment came just before penalties. France substitute Randal Kolo Muani found himself through on goal in the final seconds of extra time.
His low shot looked destined for the bottom corner.
Then Emiliano Martinez produced one of the greatest saves football has ever seen. The Argentina goalkeeper spread himself perfectly, throwing out his left foot to block the effort and keep the score level.
Considering the timing and the stakes, many football fans still regard it as one of the most important saves in World Cup history.
Martinez had already saved penalties earlier in the tournament against the Netherlands and would once again become Argentina's hero in the shootout.
Messi stayed calm as Argentina won the penalty shootout
The penalty shootout belonged to Argentina. Messi stepped up first and, with complete confidence, gently rolled his penalty into the net.
As described by many observers, it was "almost teasingly rolled home."
France quickly found themselves under pressure. Kingsley Coman saw his penalty saved by Martinez before Aurelien Tchouameni dragged his effort wide.
That left Gonzalo Montiel with the opportunity to make history.
The defender calmly converted the decisive penalty, sparking emotional celebrations across Argentina and finally delivering the World Cup trophy Messi had chased throughout his career.
Argentina won the shootout 4-2.
Lionel Messi finally completed football
Messi finished the final with two goals and was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
At 35, he achieved the one accomplishment missing from an extraordinary career.
Having already won multiple Ballon d'Or awards, UEFA Champions League titles, Copa America and countless domestic trophies, lifting the FIFA World Cup cemented his place among football's greatest-ever players.
For millions of fans, Qatar 2022 became the perfect ending to Messi's World Cup story.
Kylian Mbappe's unforgettable performance was overshadowed
Although France fell short, Mbappe delivered one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup final history.
The French forward scored a sensational hat-trick and finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner with eight goals.
His two goals in two minutes transformed what had looked like a one-sided contest into one of football's greatest spectacles.
Despite ending on the losing side, Mbappe's performance remains one of the defining memories of Qatar 2022.
Why the Argentina vs France final is still regarded as the greatest World Cup final
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final combined everything football fans could hope for.
It featured tactical brilliance, dramatic momentum swings, six goals, two of the sport's biggest superstars delivering on the grandest stage, a historic save, a nerve-shredding penalty shootout and the emotional coronation of Lionel Messi as a World Cup champion.
Nearly every football supporter remembers exactly where they were when Messi finally lifted the famous trophy in Lusail.
As Argentina chase another World Cup title in 2026, the memories of that extraordinary night in Qatar continue to define one of the greatest sporting stories ever told.
