Argentina is world champion, Messi like Maradona
The most controversial World Cup ever ends with the most beautiful final ever. So full of goals, twists and individual records that it should be awarded ex aequo, and instead the 3rd title goes to Argentina. France knocked out after a double comeback worth a 3-3 which calls for penalties, with Montiel signing the decisive one. 3 penalties also in the 120 game, enriched by matches from phenomena of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, which as seen in the tournament and in the final both deserved it. For Argentina honorable mention for the other veteran from the disappointment of ’14, Angel DiMaria. Decisive in all the finals won by his Albiceleste, half unlucky, practically always out in the knockout phase but which Scaloni wants to start.
And it’s good, because El Fideo jumps Dembelé and snatches a penalty from him Messi turns into the advantage, deserved given Argentina’s quick start. France not received and then comes the doubling of its own Of Maria: Messi, Alvarez before and departure of Mac Allister, ball in and the black and white just have to send in. 36th and Deschamps who shortly after removes the dull Giroud – who takes it very badly – and Dembele: inside Thuram and Kolo Muani, they will be decisive.
But in the long run, because it is always only Argentina who returns. Di Maria dominates and from her holes come the padlock opportunities of Messi and Mac Allister, the first kick out and the second does not arrive. Here, however, Scaloni, perhaps out of presumption of having won, gets the fideo right for Acuna, and here the final really begins.
Mbappé, so far, totally absent, warms up with a high shot that smacks of a timid awakening from France, which instead returns with arrogance. 79th, Mbappé for Kolo Muani who surprises Otamendi and snatches the second penalty of the evening. Mbappe on the disk, Martinez intuits but that’s not enough. The shortening lasts a flash, because in the 81st minute, from a recovery by Coman on Messi, here is the flash: Rabiot for Mbappe who triangulates with Thuram and frees himself for the flying jab that counts shotgun and a sensational 2-2. In the 97th minute Messi from the edge and Lloris raises for a corner, it’s extra time.
The first slips away smoothly and lights up at the end with the entry of a perky Lautaro who twice shows up and twice slams on Upamecano, first on the Messi-McAllister combination and then on Acuna’s throw. Second overtime and the magic resumes, Montiel throws, Lautaro combines with Fernandez and Messi and charges, Lloris rejects and Messi repeats in goal, with the French defender who replies to the entry ball. Brace and 7th goal for Messi, which hooks Mbappé in the scorer standings. But not for long, because Mbappé himself kicks from the edge and hits Montiel’s wide arm: another penalty and Mbappé scores a hat-trick. As only the Englishman Hurst in the World Finals, of which the 23-year-old Frenchman is now the absolute best scorer (at 4). And he becomes top scorer with 8 goals, like Ronaldo in 2002, and goes to 12 in total, like Pelé.
Argentina shocked and trembling when in the 3rd of recovery Konate launches Kolo Muani in front of Martinez, miraculous in saving his own and sending it to penalties. Where it is still decisive, because after Mbappé’s goal rejects Coman’s shot. Tchouameni is also wrong and kicks out, over there instead Messi, Dybala and Paredes don’t click. The first match point is Montiel, ball inside and Argentine champion. On the last lap Messi also becomes a World Legend, the only thing he lacked: driving force like Maradona was in ’86, 13 total goals – better solo Muller, Ronaldo and Klose – record holder of appearances and minutes played in the review: all standing for one of the greatest in history, now in the round.