Argentina Beat France On Penalties In Best World Cup Final Ever After Epic 3-3 Draw

Argentina are world champions for the first time in 36 years after beating France in a penalty shootout following an epic 3-3 draw in the final of Qatar 2022.

The game will likely go down in history as the best World Cup final ever.

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down.

But their comeback was eventually fruitless after Emiliano Martinez became Argentina's shootout hero for the second time in the tournament.

Players of Argentina pictured celebrating during their World Cup final win over France

IMAGO/Ulmer/Teamfoto

France were outplayed at Lusail Stadium for much of the final and did not register a single shot until the 68th minute.

Argentina took the lead in the 23rd minute when Lionel Messi converted a penalty kick awarded for a foul on Angel Di Maria by Ousmane Dembele.

The goal was Messi's sixth of the tournament and it temporarily moved him clear of Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.

Di Maria made it 2-0 by finishing off a fine team move on 36 minutes.

Angel Di Maria pictured celebrating after scoring Argentina's second goal

IMAGO/Matthias Koch

France manager Didier Deschamps was understandably concerned and took drastic action by making a double substitution before half time.

Off went Dembele and Olivier Giroud to be replaced by Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram in the 41st minute.

Neither Kolo Muani nor Thuram made an instant impact but both would later be involved in France goals. 

Kolo Muani was fouled by Nicolas Otamendi for an 80th-minute penalty kick that was converted by Mbappe.

Ninety-five seconds later Mbappe leveled the game with a superb volley following an assist by Thuram.

Kylian Mbappe pictured celebrating after scoring his second goal

IMAGO/Bildbyran/Joel Marklund

The game went to extra time, despite Messi going close to winning it with a spectacular effort in the 97th minute.

Unlike in many bouts of extra time, both teams committed to attack and the chances continued to flow.

Messi scored his second of the game to restore Argentina's lead when he squeezed a rebound just over the line early in the second period of extra time.

But just as had happened in normal time, Mbappe stepped up to pause the Argentina party.

Mbappe converted his second spot-kick of the game in the 118th minute after Gonzalo Montiel had been penalized for handball.

That goal saw Mbappe become only the second man in World Cup history to score a hat-trick in a final. It also sealed his status as the 2022 Golden Boot winner ahead of Messi, although the Argentina captain would later take home the Golden Ball.

France could have won 4-3 had it not been for a fine late save by Martinez to deny Kolo Muani.

Martinez then came close to thwarting Mbappe at the start of the shootout but was narrowly beaten by the forward's powerful strike.

Messi also found the net in the shootout but Kingsley Coman was denied by Martinez before Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pictured saving a penalty kick

IMAGO/Propaganda Photo/David Rawcliffe

Argentina scored all four of their spot-kicks in the shootout thanks to Messi, Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes and Montiel.

2022 World Cup Final Highlights: Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 To Argentina On Penalties)