Qatar 2022: The Greatest Final Ever — Messi's World Cup at Last
The most watched, most expensive and most goal-filled World Cup in history. A final so extraordinary it may never be surpassed. And, after a lifetime of waiting, Lionel Messi finally had his world title.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was held in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December — the first edition staged in the Arab world, the first in a Muslim-majority country, and the last to feature 32 teams before the expanded 48-team format arrived in 2026. Played in a compressed 28-day window to avoid the Gulf summer heat, it broke records at almost every turn: 172 goals — the most in any World Cup — the highest average attendance in history, and the most-watched tournament ever, both in stadiums and on screens around the world.
The group stage delivered its share of shocks. Japan topped a group containing Spain and Germany. Saudi Arabia beat eventual champions Argentina. Morocco went unbeaten, topping a group containing Belgium and Croatia. And when the knockout rounds began, the upsets kept coming. Morocco eliminated Spain on penalties, then Portugal with a goal from Youssef En-Nesiri, to become the first African and first Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final — one of the most remarkable runs in the tournament's history. Croatia once again showed their tournament resilience, eliminating Japan and Brazil on penalties on their way to the last four. Portugal were thrashed 6-1 by Morocco's conquerors in the last 16.
The semi-finals saw Argentina ease past Croatia 3-0, with Julián Álvarez scoring twice alongside a Messi penalty. France — becoming the first defending champions to reach the semis since Brazil in 1998 — beat Morocco 2-0, setting up a repeat of the 2018 final.
What followed on 18 December at Lusail Stadium is already considered by many the greatest World Cup final ever played. Argentina led 2-0 through Messi and Ángel Di María, and looked to be coasting. Then, in the space of two extraordinary minutes, Kylian Mbappé scored twice from a penalty and an improvised volley to level at 2-2. Into extra time, where Messi struck again to make it 3-2 — only for Mbappé to convert a second penalty and complete a hat-trick, becoming only the second player in history to score three goals in a World Cup final after Geoff Hurst in 1966. The shootout that decided it was fittingly dramatic: Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni both missed for France, while Argentina converted every one of their four kicks. Messi — named the tournament's best player — finally had the only trophy that had eluded him.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappé (France) — 8 goals
Best player: Lionel Messi
Best young player: Enzo Fernández
Best goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez
Champions squad: Martínez, Tagliafico, Romero, Otamendi, Molina, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Álvarez, Messi, Di María, Armani, Rulli, Foyth, Montiel, Paredes, Pezzella, Acuña, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Gómez, Guido, Dybala, Lautaro Martínez, Lisandro Martínez
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Total goals scored: 172 | Average per match: 2.69
Average attendance: 53,191