World Cup final 2022 player ratings: Magical Messi, Mbappe the history maker and Emi Martinez the penalty hero

Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens) (Messi pen 23’, 108’, Di Maria 36’ | Mbappe pen 80’, 81’, pen 128′)

Argentina have won their third World Cup after beating France 4-2 on penalties in one of the greatest finals in the competition’s 92-year history.

Lionel Messi managed to do what Diego Maradona was unable to by scoring in a World Cup final, calmly dispatching a penalty beyond Hugo Lloris, before Angel Di Maria applied the finishing touch to a superb team goal to put Argentina 2-0 up and in control.

Argentina looked to be coasting to victory until Nicolas Otamendi fouled Kolo Randal Muani in his own area 10 minutes before the end. Kylian Mbappe converted the penalty and less than two minutes later he equalised with a superb volley.

Messi looked to have won it for Argentina when bundling in from close range, before Mbappe sealed his hat-trick to become the outright top goalscorer in World Cup final history from the spot again to take it to penalties.

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Both Messi and Mbappe converted their penalties in the shootout, but misses from Kingsley Coman (saved by Emi Martinez) and Aurelien Tchouameni (wide) cost France.

Here’s how the players rated after an incredible final:

Argentina player ratings

• Emi Martinez: Didn’t face a single shot on target until the 80th minute. Fortunate to not be punished after rushing out of his goal and miskicking wildly at the start of the second half. Got a touch to Mbappe’s first penalty but couldn’t divert it around the post but made an enormous save to keep out Muani with virtually the final touch of extra time. The penalty shootout king delivered again, denying Coman before winning the mind game battle with Tchouameni. 8
• Nahuel Molina: Played the first pass in the move that ended in Di Maria’s goal but was defensively suspect up against France’s speedy wingers. Taken off at the end of 90 minutes. 5
• Cristian Romero: Clattered elbow first into clubmate Lloris in a collision that could have been avoided if he’d really wanted to. Flew into challenges with his usual gusto and mopped up tidily. Looked as though he was running in treacle when trying to keep up with Mbappe in injury time but solid overall. 6
• Nicolas Otamendi: Argentina were cruising to victory before Otamendi’s foul on Muani altered the entire complexion of the final, swinging momentum France’s way. It was one of his only missteps of the tournament, but could have been a crucial one. 5
• Nicolas Tagliafico: Preferred to Marcos Acuna and justified Scaloni’s faith with an assured display in both halves. Made an excellent tackle to stop Muani from entering the penalty area. 7
• Rodrigo De Paul: Received an early telling off from Szymon Marciniak after shoving Rabiot to the floor and while it was wholly unnecessary, that set the tone for the midfield battle. Was a foul magnet in the second half which allowed Argentina to take the sting out of the game… until it was flipped on its head. 7
• Enzo Fernandes: A revelation since coming into the side after the Saudi Arabia debacle, providing tenacity and industry in spades. Put in a monstrous shift, making nine tackles – over double that of any other player. 8
• Alexis Mac Allister: Brighton’s first-ever World Cup final representative; he has had a great tournament but saved his best performance for last. He’ll fetch another £60m plus for the Seagulls before long. His run and pass created the second goal for Di Maria and that was typical of his night’s work. 8
• Angel Di Maria: Missed the 2014 final due to injury but returned just in time for this one after sitting out the three previous knockout games. Won the penalty after cleverly nipping in front of Dembele to initiate contact before clinically firing in the second. Made way after 64 minutes and Argentina were noticeably worse after his departure. 8

Total football.

Angel Di Maria finished off an exquisite team goal for Argentina #BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/2Qfv7ChewO

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 18, 2022

• Lionel Messi: Maradona inspired Argentina to victory in 1986 but didn’t score in the final; Messi went one better. If there has been a defect in his skill set it is from the penalty spot – he was never missing this one. From the ecstasy of that goal to the sinking feeling of contributing to Mbappe’s second after being dispossessed by Tchouameni. Messi roused himself in extra-time, bundling in his second and Argentina’s third. Scored his shootout spot-kick with an impossibly composed effort. 8
• Julian Alvarez: Like an irritating fly that refuses to exit through the window. Pressed and pestered France’s makeshift backline from minute one but like others in blue and white faded after France’s improbable comeback. 6

Subs:

• Marcos Acuna: Not in the same league as Di Maria and it showed. The substitution that swung the game away from Argentina in normal time. 4
• Gonzalo Montiel: Conceded a second Argentina penalty after handballing Mbappe’s effort but mentally recovered to convert the decisive penalty before breaking down in tears. 5
• Lautaro Martinez: Had two big chances after coming on in extra-time, both of which were deflected to safety by Upamecano and played a crucial role in Messi’s second, lashing a shot at Lloris who parried into his teammate’s path. Scored in the shootout. 6
• Leandro Paredes: Sparked a melee after a typically cynical challenge. Squeezed a penalty past Lloris in the shootout. 6
• Paulo Dybala: Brought on specifically for penalties and did his job. 6
• German Pezzella: N/A

France player ratings

• Hugo Lloris: Managed to shake off an early injury worry after being flattened by Romero. Sent the wrong way from the spot by Messi and little he could do to stop Di Maria’s strike. Made a huge save in the seventh minute of added time to deny Messi a Holywood moment. Unfortunate with Messi’s second after making a great save from Martinez. 6
• Jules Kounde: Hasn’t looked at all comfortable at right-back since displacing Benjamin Pavard during the group stage and was run ragged by Di Maria, who was just too wily and skilful for him. 4
• Raphael Varane: Made an important early block from a De Paul hit-and-hope but was unable to meld France’s defence together as he has in previous rounds. Audibly whistled as he played a slack pass straight out of touch when trying to find Kounde. One of those impacted by a virus, he was dead on his feet by the end and replaced by Konate. 6
• Dayot Upamecano: Recalled after missing the semi-final through illness and repaid his manager by making two superb blocks to deny Lautaro Martinez twice in extra-time. 7
• Theo Hernandez: A couple of sloppy touches early on and looked overawed by the occasion. The only specialist left back in France’s squad, he was withdrawn midway through the second half by Camavinga, a central midfielder. 5
• Aurelien Tchouameni: Like most in blue the game largely passed the Real Madrid midfielder by until his decisive contribution for the equaliser, robbing Messi of the ball inside Argentina’s half. Dragged his penalty wide after being made to fetch the ball by Martinez. 7
• Adrien Rabiot: One of those that has been struggling with illness and it showed during the first half as he struggled to match the energy of Argentina’s midfield. Booked for a nasty scissor tackle on De Paul. Made a vital block in his own box to prevent Messi from making it 3-0. 6
• Antoine Griezmann: Has stamped his authority on this tournament in France’s engine room but was subdued up against an intense Argentine midfield. An ever-present in Deschamps’ starting XI, it was telling of his limited contribution on the night that he was taken off with France trailing 2-0. 4
• Ousmane Dembele: Beaten far too easily by Di Maria and compounded his initial error by clipping the winger’s heels to concede the penalty that Messi converted. Taken off before half-time after failing to make the desired impact. 3
• Kylian Mbappe: Cometh the man, cometh Mbappe. For 79 minutes it wasn’t his night, the shoulders were slumped, his face was forlorn. And then it all changed. He held his nerve to squeeze a penalty past Martinez and just 97 seconds later he fired a volley brilliantly into the bottom corner to draw France level. Became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst to score a World Cup final hat-trick with a second penalty deep into extra-time. Converted his third spot-kick in the shootout but it wasn’t enough to save France. Desperately unlucky to be on the losing side. 9

WHAT IS HAPPENING

Two goals in two minutes for Kylian Mbappe!!!#BBCWorldCup #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/aD5lvhlTN0

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 18, 2022

• Olivier Giroud: A record-breaking tournament for Giroud did not end as he would have hoped it to. France’s all-time leading scorer was subbed after 41 minutes and his frustration was evident as he slammed his water bottle on the ground upon reaching the bench. Booked in second-half injury time while standing in the dugout. 4

Subs:

• Marcus Thuram: Emulated his father Lilian by playing in a World Cup final and had a big impact on it too, lobbing the ball to Mbappe to lash in the equaliser. Booked for a dive inside the box. 7
• Kolo Randal Muani: Not even selected in Deschamps’ initial squad and called up in place of the injured Karim Benzema, Muani was superb after coming on. His pace and directness caused untold problems. Could have been the match-winning hero but denied by Martinez’s outstretched leg. 7
• Kingsley Coman: Like Muani and Thuram, Coman made a significant impact after coming on, driving at the defence at pace whenever in possession. 7
• Eduardo Camavinga: What a talent. Pressed into duty in an alien position at left back but coped admirably, even dispossessing Messi on the edge of his own box. 7
• Ibrahima Konate: N/A

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