In football, which country won the FIFA World Cup in 2022?
VerifiedAnswer: Argentina
Explanation:
Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. This victory marked Argentina's third World Cup title and their first since 1986, ending a 36-year wait for football's most prestigious trophy.
The tournament final was played at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022, where Argentina faced France in what many consider one of the greatest World Cup finals in history. The match ended 3-3 after extra time, with both teams delivering an extraordinary performance that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout the game.
Argentina took the lead twice during regular time, with goals from Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. However, France's Kylian Mbappé scored two quick goals in the final minutes to force the match into extra time. Messi scored again in extra time, but Mbappé completed his hat-trick with another goal, leading to a dramatic penalty shootout.
Argentina ultimately won the penalty shootout 4-2, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez making a crucial save and Gonzalo Montiel scoring the winning penalty. This victory was particularly special for Lionel Messi, who finally achieved his dream of winning the World Cup at what was likely his final World Cup appearance at age 35. Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, having scored seven goals and provided three assists throughout the competition.
