Before the World Cup final, most football experts shared a broad consensus. Some leaned toward one side, while others argued that France held an edge as the reigning champions and that Argentina could rely on the brilliance of Lionel Messi. The narrative suggested Messi might lift the coveted world title with the long and storied career he has built. This view appeared in interviews cited by socialbites.ca, where former Spartak striker Valery Kechinov and Andrey Filatov, head of the Russian Chess Federation, voiced similar thoughts .
Another question on the minds of fans and pundits alike was whether the semifinals had any bearing on the final. Both Argentina and France advanced as number two seeds, leading some to wonder about the strategic implications. The reality proved more nuanced than that initial framing.
From the opening minutes, Argentina asserted dominance on the field. The Argentines controlled the tempo, pressing high and dictating the pace of play. The French side, coached by Didier Deschamps, veteran leader and world champion as both player and coach, attempted an open and fast style. Yet their approach didn’t fully account for Argentina’s relentless energy and tactical discipline.
Argentina’s defense showed remarkable intensity and quickness, winning a majority of first-half rebounds. The match’s sole clear chance for France came from a set piece on the left edge of the penalty area, where Olivier Giroud met Antoine Griezmann’s delivery with a header that struck the crossbar.
France pushed aggressively forward, but the defense gave away gaps that Argentina exploited. For a time, the French managed to contain Messi and Angel Di Maria, who spent much of the first half operating on the left wing. Di Maria eventually found an opening: beating Jules Kunde on the flank, he entered the penalty area, faced Ousmane Dembélé, and went down. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak signaled a penalty after VAR review, and the decision stood .
Messi converted the spot kick with precise timing, waiting for Hugo Lloris to commit before guiding the ball home. Argentina seized the lead, increasing the pressure and forcing Deschamps to rethink his plan. The French coach attempted to sharpen the attack through substitutions, yet the Argentine counterpressing began to tell. A swift sequence—Di Maria’s setup, a rapid exchange in the box, and a finish by Alexis Mac Allister after Di Maria’s layoff—pushed the score to 2-0 and unsettled France .
Deschamps responded by reshuffling the frontline. Dembele gave way to Giroud, and Khan Muani and Marcus Thuram were introduced, while some wondered whether Mbappé might be withdrawn. The halftime pause did little to alter the balance of play, despite seven additional minutes added by the referee. Mbappé, quiet in the first half, found his footing after the break and produced moments that suggested a comeback was possible, including a powerful drive from the penalty area that narrowly missed the target .
France grew more compact in defense and more dangerous on the counter in the second half. Yet the Argentine defense held firm, and the South American side continued to threaten on the break. The game’s pace quickened after the equalizer, with Mbappé driving the French attack and Lionel Messi unlocking the Argentine forward line with smart distribution. The tension intensified as the clock ticked down and both teams sought a decisive breakthrough.
In the late stages, Argentina’s chances remained plentiful. A dramatic moment near the end of regular time saw Lloris stretch to deny a powerful strike from close range, preserving the score and signaling extra time could be on the horizon .
The first 15 minutes of extra time mirrored the early pressure of the match, with Argentina pressing hard and France defending stoutly. The rhythm continued into a second period of extra time, during which Argentina briefly regained the lead through a final surge. A sweeping move from the right culminated in Messi’s strike, which looked destined for the net before a desperate block denied it. The ball crossed the line after a check by the goal-line technology, confirming a goal that left the pitch in mixed cheers and tears .
The drama did not end there. An on-field collision in the box forced a penalty for Argentina; a second spot-kick gave Mbappé another chance to write history. He converted decisively, completing a hat-trick and matching a World Cup final feat last achieved by Geoff Hurst in 1966. The narrative shifted as France pressed for penalties, and a key moment arrived when Gonzalo Montiel blocked an attempted goal with his elbow, drawing a foul in the box and earning another penalty for France. Mbappé converted again, momentarily injecting hope into the French camp .
With penalties looming, the match rode on the aim and nerve of the players. A notable save kept Argentina in contention in the shootout, and the ensuing seconds produced a flurry of tense chances. Eventually, Argentina prevailed in the shootout, securing the World Cup title for the third time in the nation’s history .
As the celebration settled, debates about the greatest players persisted. Messi’s triumph offered a powerful counterpoint to the ongoing discussion of who holds the crown between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In this chapter of football history, Messi’s crowning achievement was a decisive answer that left no doubt about his standing in the sport’s pantheon .