Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, defeating France in a dramatic final on December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium, Qatar.
The Albiceleste secured their Third World Cup Title (1978, 1986, 2022) and their first since Diego Maradona’s legendary triumph in 1986.
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This historic victory crowned Lionel Messi’s career, establishing him as one of the greatest footballers in history.
Tournament Overview
Argentina – 2022 World Cup Match Progression
Group Stage - Finished: 1st Place
Round of 16 - Win vs Australia — 2 – 1
Quarter-Final - Win vs Netherlands — 2 – 2 (4–3 pens)
Semi-Final - Win vs Croatia — 3 – 0
Final - Win vs France — 3–3 (4 – 2 pens)
Group Stage -
- Argentina
- Saudi Arabia
- Mexico
- Poland
✅ Qualified for Round of 16
⏳ December 18, 2022
After extra time →
Argentina won 4–2 on penalties
Hero:
Emiliano Martínez (GK)
Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph is considered one of the most emotional and historically important victories in football history.
After their iconic 1986 win under Diego Maradona, Argentina spent 36 years struggling to reclaim global dominance — losing three major finals between 2014 and 2016.
Their 2022 journey symbolized rebirth.
Led by Lionel Messi, a new generation of talent emerged under coach Lionel Scaloni. Players like Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Emiliano Martínez formed a powerful unit that balanced experience with youth.
The final against France is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches ever played. The game showcased Messi’s brilliance, Mbappé’s heroics, and Argentina’s unmatched fighting spirit.
A 3–3 thriller ended with Argentina sealing victory on penalties — delivering Messi the only title missing from his legendary career.
This win firmly established Messi alongside Maradona, united Argentina as a footballing nation, and ensured a new chapter of glory in the Albiceleste’s history.
It also marked Argentina as the first South American team to win the World Cup since Brazil in 2002, restoring South American pride on the global stage.
Ultimately,
The 2022 triumph became more than a victory. It became the perfect football story, mixing emotion, legacy, and destiny.
Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory carried a deeper emotional weight than most football triumphs.
It represented the culmination of a long national struggle, marked by heartbreak, generational pressure, and the undying belief in greatness.
After 1986, Argentina was repeatedly close to success but fell short at the final step.
Their loss in the 1990 final, early exits in 2002, and the devastating defeat in the 2014 World Cup final left the nation in constant search of redemption.
Back-to-back Copa América final losses in 2015 and 2016 intensified criticism toward Messi, with some questioning his legacy and emotional connection to the national team.
Everything changed in 2021 when Argentina won the Copa América at the Maracanã against Brazil, their greatest football rival.
It ended a 28-year trophy drought and ignited belief within the team and supporters.
That victory served as the foundation for their 2022 World Cup success, proving that Argentina had rediscovered its identity.
The 2022 squad was built not only on Messi’s brilliance but also on a collective system.
Scaloni’s calm leadership, the defensive backbone of Romero–Otamendi, the midfield energy of Enzo & Mac Allister, and the clinical finishing of Julián Álvarez created a complete and balanced team.
The final became an epic duel between Messi and Mbappé — a symbolic passing of generations.
Despite Mbappé’s extraordinary hat-trick, Argentina’s resilience prevailed, with Emi Martínez turning into a national hero.
The celebrations in Buenos Aires saw nearly 5 million people flood the city streets, creating the largest gathering in Argentina’s history.
The win became an emotional closure for Messi’s story — the kid from Rosario who dreamed of lifting the World Cup.
It cemented Argentina’s place among football’s elite, restored South America’s pride, and gave football fans around the world a moment they would cherish forever.
Jonathan Wilson, Angels with Dirty Faces (2016)
Jonathan Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics (2013)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_national_football_team
Image sources:
1. El Gráfico
2. Unknown
3. El Gráfico
4. FIFA – World Cup Official Film 1986
5. Agencia de Noticias ANDES
6. Hossein Zohrevand
