Messi

Lionel Messi has opened the scoring in the 2022 World Cup Final for Argentina with a goal from the penalty spot.

Argentina has had trouble protecting leads before, as they threw away a 2-0 lead in their contest against Netherlands, but they may be well on their way to cruising to a victory in the 2022 World Cup Final against France here. As previously mentioned, Argentina had controlled the proceedings in the early going, and France didn’t look any better after Messi’s goal. So far, things are going well for him and his native country. Lionel Messi is the GOAT. Argentina had dominated the proceedings in the early going, and Angel Di Maria eventually drew a penalty for Argentina to give them a chance to take the lead in the first half. That sent Lionel Messi to the spot, and Messi converted from the penalty kick to give Argentina a 1-0 lead over France for a chance to win the World Cup.

The Argentina captain opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute when he calmly sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way after Ousmane Dembele felled ...

Argentina started the match against France with aggressiveness and relentless attacks. The French, who looked so dominant all tournament, struggled to find ...

The first time he can call himself a World Cup champion. And of course he scored in the 118th minute. The ball ricocheting in front of the French goal and Messi booting it in. The 2022 World Cup belongs to Argentina. After penalty kicks scored by Mbappé and Messi, the Argentina keeper stopped the attempt by France's Kingsley Coman. But in the 80th minute, Mbappé sliced the Argentina lead in half with a penalty shot to make it 2-1. In the 36th minute, Argentina managed to dissect the French defense across midfield. The 35-year-old, one of the finest to ever play the game, against the 23-year-old, who continues to add to his impressive soccer pedigree. Mbappé scored eight goals in Qatar - entering the final tied with Messi with the overall goal lead. Losing the first game in group play makes it almost impossible to advance to the knockout round. Argentina forward Ángel Di María scooted past France's Ousmane Dembélé who tripped him in the box and won a penalty kick. The shocking [opening loss to Saudi Arabia](#r) - and the whispers began immediately.

Lionel Messi is a World Cup champion as Argentina survived France's comebacks to win the 2022 Qatar tournament, their first title since 1986.

The French missed on their third penalty kick, and Argentina’s Leandro Paredes scored to put them on the brink of victory. Martinez made a save on the second penalty kick to swing the pendulum back toward Argentina, and Paulo Dybala iced his kick to give Argentina the advantage after two rounds. Just a minute later, Mbappe scored again to tie the game 2-2, his seventh goal of the tournament, snatching the Golden Boot away from Messi. For nearly 80 minutes, the Argentinean defense rendered French star Kylian Mbappe a non-factor, reducing his touches and reining in the forward who entered the game with five World Cup goals. After a tense eight-minute injury time, which included a scorching last-minute strike by Messi that was stopped by French goalie Hugh Lloris, the match went to two 15-minute periods of extra time. Perhaps the greatest [soccer](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/soccer/) player of his generation, the Argentina star capped his storybook career Sunday with an extra time goal to help his home country secure its first World Cup tournament win in 36 years as Argentina defeated France in a gripping, rollercoaster final match in Qatar.

Lionel Messi won his first-ever FIFA World Cup on Sunday after Argentina beat France in a penalty kick shoot-out in the tournament's final match.

Soccer briefly alters Iranian flag in show of support for protesters](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/27/us-soccer-iran-protests-world-cup) Now that he's secured the trophy, that seems all the more likely. [Protests and upsets at the World Cup](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/29/protests-upsets-world-cup) [Qatar says 400-500 migrant workers died due to World Cup](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/29/qatar-migrant-worker-deaths) [U.S. [Mexico](https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285063/400235462)and [Poland](https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285063/400235464)to round out the group stage. Messi finished a penalty kick and Ángel Di María [Australia](https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285073/400128131)in a dramatic 2-1 affair, Las Albicelestes were nearly [eliminated by the Netherlands](https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285074/400128139)in a penalty shootout. [Sebastián Vignolo on his show “In First Person.](https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2022/10/06/lionel-messi-el-mundial-de-qatar-seguramente-sea-el-ultimo-de-mi-carrera/)" [earlier this year](https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2022/10/06/lionel-messi-el-mundial-de-qatar-seguramente-sea-el-ultimo-de-mi-carrera/) that the Qatar 2022 World Cup would likely be his final go-around. [Saudi Arabia](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/22/saudi-arabia-argentina-world-cup-upset)in a shocking upset. [a 3-0 win over Croatia](https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285075/400128143), overcoming a shaky start to the tournament. [FIFA World Cup](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/23/world-cup-qatar-2022-stadiums-capacity) on Sunday after Argentina beat France in a penalty kick shootout in the tournament's thrilling final match. [three World Cup trophies](https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup), sitting behind only Germany (4), Italy (4), and Brazil (5) for most all-time titles.