FIFA World Cup 2022 (champions - Argentina)
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar ended with Argentina beating France on penalties (4-2) after a 3-3 draw in the Lusail final on 18 December 2022 - Messi scoring twice and winning a second Golden Ball, Mbappe scoring a final hat-trick and taking the Golden Boot with eight goals. It was the last 32-team World Cup.
Why this wins its question: Binds the shoot-out sequence and award facts of the most-discussed final in history to FIFA's own pages, and situates 2022 as the hinge between the 32- and 48-team eras within this graph.
Claims
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Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw following extra time in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium on 18 December 2022; Gonzalo Montiel converted the clinching kick after misses by Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Lionel Messi scored twice in the final and won the Golden Ball for a second time; Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick and won the Golden Boot as top scorer with eight goals. Angel Di Maria scored Argentina's other goal.
Argentina entered 2026 as defending champions from this victory over 2018 winners France, and Qatar 2022 was the last edition with 32 teams and 64 matches before the 48-team format.