Argentina v France: How the World Cup finalists rated

Blasting this one at full volume 🔊🇦🇷

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 18, 2022

It seemed Messi had won the game when his close-range shot crossed the line, but Mbappe levelled with his second spot-kick for his hat-trick and Randal Kolo Muani was then denied at the death by the outstretched arm of Emilano Martinez to send the game to penalties which Argentina won 4-2 to spark wild celebrations from Argentina’s ecstatic fans.

Here, we rate all of the players on display in the greatest show on earth.

ARGENTINA

EMILIANO MARTINEZ: An outstanding one-on-one save in the last seconds took the final to penalties, where he saved from Kingsley Coman. 7 (out of 10)

NAHUEL MOLINA: Would have been expecting a tough assignment coming up against Kylian Mbappe but in the end he was free to push on. 7

CRISTIAN ROMERO: Up for the battle as proven when he unceremoniously barged into Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris in the early stages. 7

NICOLAS OTAMENDI: Played every minute at these finals but conceded a late penalty and his legs left him found wanting late on. 5

NICOLAS TAGLIAFICO: Has been drafted in for the last two games and has not put a foot wrong for Lionel Scaloni’s side. 6

ANGEL DI MARIA: Missed the 2014 final defeat to Germany through injury but made up for it here, winning the penalty for the first goal and slotting home the second. 8

RODRIGO DE PAUL: Set the tone with some bite in two early challenges and was a large reason Argentina won the midfield battle so comprehensively. 7

ENZO FERNANDEZ: Has enjoyed a fine tournament and once again showed his tenacity against bigger-name opponents. 7

ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER: The Brighton man started the move for Di Maria’s goal before crossing for his team-mate to finish, proved he belongs on a pitch with some of the world’s best. 8

LIONEL MESSI: Alive from the get-go and grabbed his sixth goal of the finals from the penalty spot – lost possession in the build-up to the France leveller – but made amends with his second in extra-time and started the shoot-out with a goal. 8

JULIAN ALVAREZ: A livewire and the perfect foil for Messi in the Argentina attack but was on the periphery here. 6

SUBSTITUTES:

MARCOS ACUNA (for Di Maria, 64): A defensive change to see out the win but it did not go to plan for Scaloni. 5

GONZALO MONTIEL (for Molina, 90): Gave away the penalty which took the game to a shoot-out, where he duly scored the winner. 7

LEANDRO PAREDES (for De Paul, 102): Unfortunate not to start the game and added guile. 6

LAUTARO MARTINEZ (for Alvarez, 103): Injected fresh impetus into the match, coming close to a goal before seeing his shot palmed into the path of Messi for the winner. 6

PAULO DYBALA (for Tagliafico, 120): On to take a penalty and slotted it home. 6

FRANCE

HUGO LLORIS: Could do nothing about the goals but saved well from Messi in the closing stages, nowhere near the Argentina penalties, however. 6

JULES KOUNDE: Given twisted blood by Di Maria and was not up to the task of shackling the Juventus forward. 5

RAPHAEL VARANE: The one France defender who did not seem rattled but nothing he could do to stem the tide. 6

DAYOT UPAMECANO: Gave the ball away to allow Argentina to break for the second goal but made amends with two superb blocks in extra-time. 7

THEO HERNANDEZ: Yet another who seemed to wilt on the biggest stage. 5

ADRIEN RABIOT: Back in the side after illness but grew into the game after a slow start. 6

AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI: The Real Madrid youngster could not replicate his earlier form as the contest seemed to pass him by before he missed his spot-kick in the shoot-out. 5

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN: Has excelled in a midfield role for Les Bleus but could not influence the game in the same manner. 6

OUSMANE DEMBELE: Conceded a silly penalty for a petulant shove on Di Maria and hooked before the interval with France struggling. 4

KYLIAN MBAPPE: Scored a 97-second brace to bring France level before equalising in extra-time to win the Golden Boot – still was not enough for a second World Cup. 9

OLIVIER GIROUD: Hardly had a sniff of the ball as France started so poorly and was replaced before half-time as Deschamps looked to change things. 5

SUBSTITUTES:

RANDAL KOLO MUANI (for Dembele, 41): Scored with his first touch off the bench in the semi-final win over Morocco and made a difference here, too. 7

MARCUS THURAM (for Giroud, 41): His pace at least gave Argentina plenty more to think about – booked for a late dive. 7

EDUARDO CAMAVINGA (for Hernandez, 71): Energy and strength as a makeshift left-back allowed France to go for it in the closing stages. 7

KINGSLEY COMAN (for Griezmann, 71): Another whose pace troubled a tiring Argentina defence but failed from the spot in the shoot-out. 6

YOUSSOUF FOFANA (for Rabiot, 96): A like-for-like swap in the middle of the park. 5

IBRAHIMA KONATE (for Varane, 112): A late change with Varane tiring. 5

AXEL DISASI (for Kounde, 120): n/a.