Argentina beat France on penalties to win the tensest of World Cup finals which treated fans to six goals before the shootout.
Argentina twice thought they had sealed the win after going 2-0 up in normal time and 3-2 up in extra time. However, France kept coming back through Kylian Mbappe and took the game to penalties.
Emiliano Martinez was the hero for his side as he saved Kingsley Coman’s spot-kick leading Argentina to the World Cup trophy.
Following an entertaining final, Sportsmail’s Rob Draper rates the players from both teams.
Despite not lifting the World Cup for France, Kylian Mbappe was the star performer in the final
ARGENTINA (4-4-2)
Emiliano Martinez 9
The save from Kolo Muani at the end of extra time was extraordinary. It rescued the World Cup and he is a history maker with penalty save from Coman.
Nahuel Molina 7 (Subbed on 90 mins for Gonzalo Montiel)
Super performance early on that left Mbappe without a kick and led to striker being moved to centre-half. But struggled in that mad last ten minutes of normal time.
Cristian Romero 7.5
Back to his best, commanding headers, great interceptions, he played with total authority and appropriate aggression – and then struggled when the turnaround came.
Nicolas Otamendi 6.5
An old friend, sometimes less than sure in the Premier League but looked a rock alongside Martinez – but then gave away the penalty which invited France back into the game.
Nicolas Tagliafico 7 (Subbed on 120 for Paulo Dybala)
So successful in what he did that Ousmane Dembele was taken off after 41 minutes. Struggled when France were in ascendancy but regathered his poise for extra time.
Emiliano Martinez’s save from Randal Kolo Muani, and his shootout display, was extraordinary
Angel Di Maria 9 (Subbed on 65 for Marcus Acuna)
Superb. Fell out with Scaloni two years ago, kissed and made up. Seemed too old, an optional extra, to injured in knock out stages. Back for the final to make history with two of the most decisive moments in Argentina’s football epoch since 1986.
Rodrigo De Paul 7.5 (Subbed on 103 for Leandro Paredes)
Provided the ballast to the midfield, gave solidity while Di Maria had freedom to attack on the other flank. And yet still provided incisive passes whilst acting as provider and minder to Messi.
Enzo Fernandez 8.5
One of the top midfielders in Qatar with Mac Allister and ran the midfield in the opening 80 minutes. Lost his head for a while when all seemed to fall apart but recovered in extra time.
Alexis Mac Allister 9 (Subbed on 116 for German Pezzella)
Who knew that lurking in Brighton’s midfield was a global star? Not only bossed the midfield, the assist for Di Maria was exquisite. Had started the move, playing in Messi before running in behind.
Alexis Mac Allister bossed the midfield and looked like a global star in the World Cup final
Lionel Messi 9
Scored the penalty, helped create the second and lost possession for Mbappe’s killer second goal. His legs had gone. It looked like he could give no more. Somehow, from somewhere, he popped up to rescue his team for 3-2. Then he had to go again in the shoot-out. He did it. He put himself up there with Diego.
Julian Alvarez 8.5 (Subbed on 103 for Martinez)
What a player City have! His pressing was key to disrupting service from Tchouameni, he was always willing to sprint beyond the last defender and his pass to set up Mac Allister for the second goal was just perfectly timed.
Coach: Lionel Scaloni 9
Has ever a gamble in a World Cup final paid off so handsomely? Bringing back Di Maria was a big call, very positive. And he was the difference maker. When his side fell apart, he rallied them and helped them keep their nerve.
Subs
Marcus Acuna (for Di Maria 65) 7
Gonzalo Montiel (for Molina 90) 9
Lautaro Martinez (for Alvarez 103) 8
Leandro Paredes (for De Paul 103) 9
German Pezzella (For Macalliser 116) n/m
Paulo Dybala (for Tagliafico 120) 9
When it looked like Lionel Messi could give no more – somehow he rescued his team again
France (4-3-3)
Hugo Lloris 8.5
The save from Messi in injury time will go do down in history. That was the moment, Lloris was equal to it one handed, tipping the ball away. Will be upset not to save a penalty in the shoot out.
Jules Kounde 6.5
Just looked spooked by Di Maria. After 41 minutes, he was so rattled he just wrestled him to the floor. But he grew into game.
Raphael Varane 8
Curiously the centre halves weren’t really to blame for the opening 80 minutes of utter infectiveness. They stood their ground – but were let down by those about them. Limped off on 113 minutes injured.
Dayot Upamecano 9
The sliding block in extra time to deny Lautaro Martinez was outstanding as was the perfectly timed first half tackle on Messi. Was superb throughout.
Theo Hernandez 4 (Subbed on 71 for Eduardo Camavinga)
Nervous mistakes from the off. Going forward he is good but there was little of that for him in this game. His defensive work has been poor through the World Cup and again tonight.
Dayot Upamecano kept France in the World Cup final with several superb tackles throughout
Antoine Griezmann 5 (Subbed on 71 for Kingsley Coman)
One of the World Cup’s best players – and yet he couldn’t get in this game. Had gone off by the time the game might have opened up for him.
Aurelien Tchouameni 6.5
Went from being dominated in midfield to running the game in that extraordinary turnaround. Will live the missed penalty for a lifetime though.
Adrien Rabiot 6.5 (Subbed on 96 for Youssouf Fofana)
Was ran off his feet for 80 minutes and then, as with his team-mates, came into his own once the revival awakened.
Ousmane Dembele 3 (Subbed on 41 for Randal Kolo Muani)
This will take some time to recover from. Rarely has there been a more infamous World Cup final performance. Penalty was soft but he panicked when Di Maria ghosted past him. Hooked on 41 minutes told you what Deschamps thought. His head looked gone.
Ousmane Dembele had a World Cup final to forget as he was subbed off in the first-half
Olivier Giroud 5 (Subbed on 41 for Marcus Thuram)
Sacrificed to get Mbappe more in the game and central on 41 minutes though he’s done no worse than anyone.
Kylian Mbappe 9.5
How can you score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and a penalty in the shoot out and not be man of the match? So what if he lost. It was an extraordinary performance, one of the great rescue acts – and he had barely featured until 79 minutes.
Coach: Didier Deschamps 8
The subs were all brave, early and they made a difference. And they almost made history in perhaps the greatest World Cup final.
Subs
Randal Kolo Muani 41 (for Dembele) 7.5
Marcus Thuram 41 (for Giroud) 7
Eduardo Camavinga 71 (for Hernandez) 7.5
Kingsley Coman 71 (for Greizmann) 6
Youssouf Fofana 96 (for Rabiot 96) 6.5
Ibrahima Konate 113 (for Varane) 6.5
Axel Disasi 120 (for Kounde) n/m
Ref: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) 8.5
An ultra cool head for an extraordinary final. The penalties were tight but not outrageous decisions. But spotting the Thuram dive on 87 minutes was great refereeing that changed history.
Mbappe had an incredible World Cup final and was unlucky to find himself on the losing team
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