The Greatest Final ever seen. According to FIFA 3.575 billion people tuned in to watch the World Cup Final on Sunday 18th December between Argentina and France. It was a matchup that saw PSG teammates, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe face off against each other in the worlds biggest game.
The match itself did not disappoint.
Argentina started the better of the two teams, Angel Di Maria winning a penalty after a lovely piece of footwork on the byline, who stepped up to take the penalty. Lionel Messi. With all the confidence of being the greatest of all time he sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way and gave Argentina a 1-0 lead.
Continuing the pressure, Argentina took a 2-0 lead with possibly the goal of the tournament. A lovely team goal that saw them work from back to front and Angel Di Maria finishing off the move. Argentina led 2-0 at half time.
France needed a response and with Argentina looking like they were cruising to a comfortable win, a mistake from Otamendi in the 80th minute gave France a way back into the game. He fowled Kolo Muani in the box to hand France a penalty and a lifeline. Kylian Mbappe stepped up with all the pressure of France on his back and President Macron watching on, he slotted the penalty home and cut Argentina's lead to 2-1.
Not minutes later, Messi lost the ball to Kingsley Coman who played to Rabiot and after a lovely diagonal ball to Mbappe, he turned on the style, played a lovely one two with Kolo Muani and fired home a volley for the ages into the bottom corner. France erupted, a huge fight back to 2-2 when they looked down and out.
Extra-time beaconed. France with the momentum, however the first half of extra-time ended with the teams still level at 2-2. The second half came to life, with the desperation of winning the World Cup on the line the teams were playing like they didn't want penalties. A lovely move from Argentina saw Martinez go through on goal and after a fantastic save from Hugo Lloris Lionel Messi slotted the ball home to give Argentina the lead 3-2. You would think the game was finished at this point, however the young starlet had other ideas.
Kylian Mbappe had his say again, a corner from Coman saw the ball headed out by Argentina, the ball fell to Mbappe, who shot from outside the box, the shot was blocked but illegally by an arm of an Argentina player. Another penalty was given and Kylian Mbappe stepped up. The pressure was raised this time around, to bring France back level and to be only the second player in history to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup Final. He stepped up and cooly slotted it passed Emi Martinez in goal. 3-3.
Penalties.
Argentina getting the better of the coin toss, gaining a slight advantage with the penalties being taken in front of their main section of fans. France started the penalties.
Kylian Mbappe with his 3rd penalty of the game and once again showed unbelievable mental strength scoring his 3rd penalty of the game.
Lionel Messi looked to return the favour. All the pressure of the world on his shoulders and it looked like he had lived this moment before. He stuttered, stop and passed the ball into the goal, he looked like the coolest person in the stadium at that point and brought Argentina level at 1-1.
Kingsley Coman was next, the statue of Emi Martinez stood in front of him and the Argentina goal keeper, who is a penalty maestro saved the second from France, giving Argentina a slight advantage.
Paulo Dybala was second for the Argentinians, not played much in the World Cup but still a quality player and he showed it. Sliding his penalty straight down the middle.
Aurelien Tchouameni was 3rd for France and he had to score to keep France in with a chance. However Emi Martinez had other ideas, diving the right way making Tchouameni slide his penalty wide of the post. Argentina 2-1 up on penalties.
Leandro Paredes stepped up to give Argentina a huge advantage, a penalty taker for Juventus he rifled the penalty passed Lloris, who dived the right way but couldn't handle the power to save the penalty. 3-1 Argentina.
Kolo Muani was next for France and if he missed, they had lost. I would be very surprised if he doesn't get a big move after his performance in this World Cup. He struck his penalty so sweet, straight down the middle bringing France back to 2-3.
Gonzalo Montiel, with the chance to win Argentina the greatest trophy in the world. So much pressure on this penalty. He stepped up and sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way and gave Argentina the greatest prize of them all.
The team ecstatic, most of the team knelt with Lionel Messi, this win was for him, you could see how much it meant to Argentina. I always say the best story always wins in football and this was the story that the world wanted.
Lionel Messi, a World Champion. The Greatest Footballer to ever grace the pitch, finally had his hands on the biggest trophy in world football.
Lionel Messi = The G.O.A.T.