The race for the Golden Boot — the award for the player who scores the most goals in the tournament — hung in the balance heading into Sunday’s clash between Argentina and France.
With his first-half goal on a penalty kick, Argentina’s Lionel Messi pulls one ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Here’s where things stand:
6 goals
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) (3 assists)
5 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France) (2 assists)
4 goals
- Julián Álvarez (Argentina) (0 assists)
- Olivier Giroud (France) (0 assists)
Tiebreaker explained: According to FIFA’s criteria, if two players have scored an equal number of goals at the end of the World Cup, the one with the most assists gets the Golden Boot award.
If two or more players are equal on both goals and assists, then the person who played the fewest minutes in the tournament (thus, scoring their goals in a shorter period of time) will win the award.
Argentina leads 2-0 at the half
Argentina leads France 2-0 after the first 45 minutes of the World Cup 2022 final.
It was the South American side that looked the more lively from the first whistle. And about a quarter through this match, Argentina hit paydirt.
In the 21st minute, Ángel Di María was taken down in the box. The ref blew the whistle and pointed to the spot: penalty awarded to Argentina.
Who else but Lionel Messi stepped up and coolly deposited the ball past France goaltender Hugo Lloris to put his side up 1-0.
Late in the first half, things went from bad to worse for the defending champs.
In the 35th minute, Messi set the counterattack in motion. Alexis Mac Allister found a steaking Di María on the left side of the box, who beat Lloris to give Argentina a commanding 2-0 lead going into the break.
This strong start has the crowd in Lusail Stadium, dominated by those rooting on Messi’s side in his final World Cup match, in euphoria.
Argentina 2-0 France
##Match Coverage
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