Who Won 2022 World Cup? Argentina Final Recap

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup by beating France in the final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. The match finished 3-3 after extra time, and Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2. Lionel Messi scored twice in the final, while Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France. Fans asking who won 2022 World Cup should remember Argentina’s third title and one of the greatest finals ever played.

The victory ended Argentina’s 36-year wait for another World Cup trophy. Their previous titles came in 1978 and 1986, so the Qatar triumph carried huge historical weight. The final also gave Messi the one major trophy missing from his international career. The result still shapes the defending-champion story before FIFA World Cup 2026.

Quick Answer: Who Won 2022 World Cup?

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. They beat France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the final.

Final Detail	Confirmed Fact	Why It Matters
Winner	Argentina	Argentina won their third World Cup title.
Runner-up	France	France missed a chance to defend the 2018 title.
Final score	Argentina 3-3 France	The game went through extra time.
Penalty shootout	Argentina won 4-2	Penalties decided the champion.
Venue	Lusail Stadium	The final was played in Qatar.
Date	December 18, 2022	The final closed the Qatar tournament.

How Argentina Won the Final

Argentina started the final with control and scored twice before halftime. Messi converted a penalty, then Angel Di Maria finished a flowing counterattack. France struggled to build rhythm during the first half. The match looked close to settled before Mbappe changed everything late.

Mbappe scored twice in quick succession to force extra time. Messi then put Argentina ahead again, but Mbappe equalized with another penalty. The final reached 3-3 and moved into a shootout. Argentina held their nerve, while France missed two penalties.

Why Argentina’s 2022 Win Was Historic

Argentina’s win gave the country its third World Cup title. The trophy also ended a long wait since Diego Maradona led the 1986 triumph. That made the victory feel like a bridge between eras. Messi became the central figure of the new chapter.

The win also changed Argentina’s status entering the next tournament. They became defending champions and a major reference point for every contender. Fans can follow their current team setup through the Argentina World Cup 2026 page. The pressure now shifts from chasing a title to defending one.

What Made the 2022 Final Special?

The final had elite players, late drama, and repeated momentum swings. Argentina looked in control, France fought back, Argentina led again, and France answered again. A final that reaches 3-3 after extra time is rare at this level. The penalty shootout then added one final layer of pressure.

Messi and Mbappe made the match feel even bigger. Messi scored twice and led Argentina’s attack, while Mbappe scored all three France goals. The final became a direct duel between two of football’s biggest names. The Lionel Messi profile explains why that night became career-defining.

France’s Role in the Final

France entered the final as defending champions from 2018. They had enough quality to chase back-to-back World Cup titles, a rare achievement in the modern era. Injuries and illness affected parts of their tournament, but they still reached the final. Mbappe then produced one of the most dramatic individual final performances.

France did not win the trophy, yet their comeback kept the final alive. Mbappe’s hat-trick made him the first player since 1966 to score three in a men’s World Cup final. The result hurt France, but the performance kept them in the elite conversation. Their 2026 outlook remains important on the France World Cup 2026 page.

Argentina’s Key Players in 2022

Messi was the leader, scorer, creator, and emotional center of Argentina’s run. Di Maria gave the final its first major open-play moment with his goal. Emiliano Martinez made huge saves during the tournament and helped Argentina in shootouts. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Alexis Mac Allister also shaped the run.

The team grew after losing its opening match to Saudi Arabia. That defeat could have broken the campaign, yet Argentina responded with control and resilience. Their midfield became sharper as the tournament progressed. The final reward was a title built through pressure rather than a perfect start.

What the 2022 Result Means for 2026

Argentina enter the 2026 tournament as defending champions. That changes how opponents prepare for them and how fans judge their performances. A strong defending champion always carries extra attention. The team will need freshness, balance, and squad depth to handle the expanded format.

France also carry unfinished business into the next tournament. They were one penalty shootout away from repeating as champions. The 2022 final gives both teams a clear emotional thread heading into 2026. Fans can compare future records through the World Cup stats and records section.

Major Awards from World Cup 2022

Messi won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Mbappe won the Golden Boot after finishing as the top scorer. Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove after key saves in knockout matches and the final. Enzo Fernandez won the young player award for his midfield impact.

Those awards show why Argentina’s win was not only about the final. Their best players delivered across the tournament, while France had the top scorer. The award list also explains why the 2022 final still feels so balanced in memory. Both finalists left Qatar with players who shaped the tournament’s biggest moments.

Where the 2022 Final Ranks Historically

The final is widely remembered as one of the greatest World Cup matches. It had a two-goal lead, a late comeback, extra-time drama, a hat-trick, and a penalty shootout. Few finals combine that many turning points. The match also gave two global stars defining moments on the same stage.

Argentina’s victory made the night unforgettable for their supporters. France’s comeback made the match gripping for neutral fans. The final also changed how many fans discuss Messi’s legacy. A single match carried trophy stakes, individual awards, and national history together.

The game also set a high bar for World Cup 2026. Fans will compare the next final with Qatar because the 2022 finish was so dramatic. Argentina and France both enter the next tournament with that night attached to their story. One team defends a crown, while the other remembers how close it came.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2022 World Cup?

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. They defeated France in the final at Lusail Stadium.

What was the 2022 World Cup final score?

The final finished Argentina 3-3 France after extra time. Argentina then won the penalty shootout 4-2.

Who scored for Argentina in the 2022 final?

Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina. Angel Di Maria also scored in the first half.

Who scored for France in the 2022 final?

Kylian Mbappe scored all three France goals. He completed a hat-trick before the penalty shootout.

How many World Cups have Argentina won?

Argentina have won three World Cups. Their titles came in 1978, 1986, and 2022.

Conclusion

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup after a 3-3 draw and a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over France. Messi lifted the trophy, Mbappe produced a historic final, and Qatar 2022 ended with one of football’s most dramatic title matches. The result still defines the defending-champion story heading into 2026.