The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be etched in the annals of football history as one of the most unforgettable editions of the tournament. Argentina breathtaking matches, dramatic comebacks, and emotional farewells, the tournament reached its pinnacle when Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, defeated France in one of the greatest finals ever witnessed. Beyond the glory of lifting their third World Cup title, Argentina and its players broke several records that added to the significance of this historic triumph.
1. Argentina’s Third World Cup Title
Argentina’s victory in Qatar marked their third World Cup championship, adding to their previous triumphs in 1978 and 1986. This win was particularly symbolic, as it came 36 years after Diego Maradona led Argentina to glory in Mexico. Under the guidance of coach Lionel Scaloni, the 2022 team blended youth and experience and showed incredible resilience throughout the tournament. Their campaign began with a shocking 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, but they bounced back, defeating Mexico, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia on their way to the final. The final win over France via a penalty shootout sealed Argentina’s place among the footballing elite once again.
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2. Lionel Messi’s Record-Breaking Tournament
Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, capped his international career with a World Cup trophy. In doing so, he broke several records. He became the first player to score in every knockout round of a single World Cup edition Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. Messi also set a record for most World Cup appearances (26 matches), surpassing Lothar Matthäus’ long-standing record. With seven goals and three assists, Messi’s performance in Qatar was arguably his best at a World Cup, and he was central to Argentina’s success from start to finish.
3. Emiliano Martínez’s Penalty Heroics
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez played a vital role in Argentina’s title run, especially during the penalty shootouts. He made crucial saves in the quarterfinal shootout against the Netherlands and was again the hero in the final, saving a key penalty from Kingsley Coman. Martínez’s composure and psychological games during penalties earned him the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
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4. The Greatest World Cup Final Ever
The final between Argentina and France is widely hailed as the greatest World Cup final of all time. It ended 3-3 after extra time, with both Messi and Kylian Mbappé delivering unforgettable performances. Mbappé scored a hat-trick the first in a final since 1966 while Messi netted twice. The match had everything: goals, drama, comebacks, and a nail-biting penalty shootout. It was a football spectacle that thrilled fans around the world.
5. Argentina’s unbeaten streak continued
Argentina’s journey in the FIFA World Cup 2022 was nothing short of remarkable. Despite suffering a surprising 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, Argentina bounced back with incredible determination, going unbeaten for the rest of the tournament and ultimately lifting the trophy.
Following that early setback, Lionel Scaloni’s side displayed great resilience and unity. They secured crucial group-stage victories over Mexico (2-0) and Poland (2-0), which ensured their place in the Round of 16 as group leaders.
- Round of 16: Defeated Australia 2-1
- Quarterfinals: Drew 2-2 with the Netherlands (won 4-3 on penalties)
- Semifinals: Beat Croatia 3-0
- Final: Drew 3-3 with France (won 4-2 on penalties)
