Who won the 2022 World Cup?

The 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar, was won by Argentina. On December 18, 2022, after a spectacular final against France, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time. This triumph gave Argentina its third World Cup title, after those of 1978 and 1986, and crowned Lionel Messi’s exceptional career.

The 2022 World Cup was the 22nd edition of the competition organized by FIFA. It took place from November 20 to December 18, 2022, marking the first time the tournament was held in winter to avoid the extreme temperatures of the Qatari summer.

Twelve state-of-the-art stadiums hosted the 64 matches, spread across five cities, including Doha, Lusail, and Al-Rayyan. The organization attracted global interest but also sparked debate about working conditions and environmental issues.

Argentina, led by Lionel Scaloni, had a difficult start to the tournament. In their first match, they suffered a surprise defeat to Saudi Arabia (2-1), jeopardizing their qualification. However, buoyed by an inspired Lionel Messi and a solid team effort, the team quickly recovered.

Argentina won their other two group matches against Mexico (2-0) and Poland (2-0), finishing top of Group C.

In the knockout stages, Argentina’s run was impressive:

• Round of 16: 2-1 victory over Australia.
• Quarterfinals: heroic victory over the Netherlands (2-2, 4-3 on penalties) in an electric match.
• Semifinals: demonstration against Croatia (3-0), finalists in 2018, with a masterful Messi and a brace from young Julián Álvarez.

On December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium, more than 88,000 spectators witnessed one of the most exciting finals in World Cup history.

Argentina dominated the first half: Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a penalty (1-0) before Ángel Di María doubled the lead (2-0). Les Bleus, led by Didier Deschamps, seemed powerless for 70 minutes.

But the end of the match turned into drama and a miracle for France. In the space of two minutes, Kylian Mbappé scored two goals (a penalty and then a spectacular shot), bringing Les Bleus back to 2-2 and forcing extra time.

During extra time, Messi scored again (3-2), before a third goal from Mbappé on a penalty kick (3-3) sent the teams to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Argentina kept their cool: Emiliano Martínez, the Argentine goalkeeper, saved two French shots, while his teammates kept their composure. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties, sparking an explosion of joy in Buenos Aires and across the country.

This victory was particularly symbolic. At 35, Lionel Messi finally won the World Cup, the only major trophy missing from his collection. A key member of the team, he was voted the best player of the tournament (World Cup Golden Ball), scoring seven goals and delivering three assists.

His duel with Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat trick in the final and won the Golden Boot (top scorer), will remain one of the most legendary clashes in soccer history.

This World Cup left a lasting impression with its intensity, surprises, and spectacular final. It confirmed Argentina’s return to the top of world football, 36 years after Diego Maradona’s triumph in 1986.

For France, the heroic finalists, the defeat was cruel, but it proved the strength of a generation led by Mbappé, which promises an even more glorious future.

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in the final (3-3, 4-2 on penalties). This historic victory gave Lionel Messi his first world title and Argentina its third star, sealing one of the most beautiful finals in the history of soccer.

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