A look back at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final

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Four years ago, tens of thousands of shot fans packed into Qatar's Lusail Stadium to ticker Argentina instrumentality connected France, a matchup featuring Lionel Messi against Kylian Mbappé, successful the World Cup final.

France, the defending champion, would person been the archetypal federation since Brazil successful 1962 to triumph successive World Cups. But the crippled came down to punishment kicks successful the end, with Argentina scoring 4 to France's two.

Before the 2022 final

Anticipation built crossed Argentina and France up of the last lucifer successful 2022. In Rosario, Argentina, Messi's hometown, a crane lifted a elephantine Messi garment into the air. The blue-and-white striped jersey was besides everyplace successful Qatar, CBS News shaper Rose Manister, who covered the 2022 World Cup, said.

"It was everywhere, adults and children alike were wearing it constantly, adjacent connected days erstwhile Argentina weren't playing," she said.

Argentina instrumentality Luceo Colombera was amazed by however galore fans had made their mode to Qatar for the final.

"Some Argentinians, I cognize that they sold their house, their car to beryllium here," Colombera told Reuters successful Spanish. "That is incredible, I think, and the imagination of astir of the radical present is that Messi tin beryllium the champion."

Max Pichaud attended the last from Paris.

"I'm truthful excited due to the fact that it is the archetypal clip I spell to a World Cup final. The archetypal World Cup I spell to and it's France, it's my country, truthful I volition enactment them until the end," helium told Reuters astatine the time. "Of course, we volition triumph due to the fact that we play with our hearts and the fans."

What happened during the game

Argentina started the crippled disconnected strong, with a 2-0 pb by halftime. Messi scored connected a punishment kick, and Angel Di Maria scored a goal. Di Maria scored again successful the 2nd half.

But then, successful the game's 71st minute, Mbappé scored. He rapidly scored again, past scored his team's 3rd extremity connected a punishment kick. Mbappé became the 2nd subordinate ever to execute a chapeau instrumentality — 3 goals during a azygous lucifer — successful a World Cup final.

The crippled yet came down to a punishment shootout, with Argentina's Messi, Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes and Gonzalo Montiel shooting connected target. Only Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani scored for France.

Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, a prize fixed to the tournament's champion player. He's the lone subordinate successful World Cup past to person the Golden Ball twice.

Fans respond to Argentina's win

The lucifer betwixt Argentina and France "was astir apt the last that everyone successful Qatar was hoping for," Manister said.

"And past the last was astir apt the top World Cup last of each time," she said.

Argentina instrumentality Rogelio Vazquez celebrated aft his team's triumph successful a punishment footwear shootout.

"We could person won it comfortably, but we had to endure arsenic always," helium told Reuters successful Spanish. "But erstwhile you suffer, you bask it more. So let's go, Argentina."

French instrumentality Kadine Galoco congratulated Mbappé connected his 3 goals.

"But Messi got the World Cup helium wanted," Galoco told Reuters successful French. "I don't privation to accidental I'm blessed for him, but precise bully travel for him. And bully luck to France, don't fto go, the adjacent 1 is for us."

More than 80,000 radical attended the last lucifer astatine Lusail Stadium, according to FIFA. But the country was quiescent the time aft the final, with 1 instrumentality telling Reuters it was similar a shade town.

"But yeah, who cares. Yesterday was amazing. We watched the sunrise dancing with our compatriots. You tin archer by my dependable what a bully clip we had," Jesica Inamorato, different Argentina fan, told Reuters successful Spanish.

How large names reacted

Messi was lauded by fans, including LeBron James and erstwhile President Barack Obama, who some called Messi the GOAT.

Athletes, including erstwhile striker Gary Lineker and Serena Williams, besides weighed in.

"It's been an implicit privilege to ticker Lionel Messi for astir 2 decades. Moment aft infinitesimal of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football," Lineker wrote successful a societal media post. "He's a acquisition from the footballing Gods. So pleased that he's lifted the eventual prize successful our sport. Gracias y felicidades, campeón."

Ryan Reynolds was besides among those watching the last lucifer of the 2022 World Cup.

"This crippled is simply a gorgeous, evil curse. I emotion it truthful overmuch marque it stop," Reynolds said astatine the time.

Brazilian shot fable Pelé, who died soon aft the World Cup, besides congratulated the teams.

"Today, shot continues to archer its story, arsenic always, successful an enthralling way," helium said successful an Instagram post. "Messi winning his archetypal World Cup, arsenic his trajectory deserved. My beloved friend, Mbappé, scoring 4 goals successful a final. What a acquisition it was to ticker this spectacle to the aboriginal of our sport."