Lionel Messi scored his sixth and seventh goals of the 2022 World Cup as he fired Argentina to World Cup glory in a thrilling final against France.
Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick, also with two from the spot, placed Messi one behind his French counterpart in the race for the Golden Boot, after the latter responded with two quick-fire goals in the second half and then a third in extra time as France's bid for a World Cup repeat fell short.
Penalties played a key part in the 2022 final, and for the Golden Boot race. Both Mbappe and Messi also scored in the final shootout.
We have a look at the hefty penalty haul secured by Lionel Scaloni’s side in 2022 and where it stands in World Cup history.
MORE: World Cup final result: Argentina vs France
How many penalties did Argentina received in World Cup 2022?
Messi kept his composure as he slotted past Hugo Lloris in the final, placing it to the right of the goal as the Frenchman dived the other way. That was Argentina's fifth penalty awarded at the tournament.
In the previous round, Messi had thrashed a clinical finish into the top right corner, beating Croatia's Dominik Livakovic after the Croatia goalkeeper brought down his strike partner Julian Alvarez.
Messi previously had the chance to score from the spot in Qatar, having rolled home the opener in his side’s shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Argentina penalties 2022 (excluding shootouts)
- 1 vs. Saudi Arabia (Messi scored)
- 0 vs. Mexico
- 1 vs. Poland (Messi attempt saved)
- 0 vs. Australia
- 1 vs. Netherlands (Messi scored)
- 1 vs. Croatia (Messi scored)
- 1 vs. France (Messi scored)
Saud Abdulhamid was penalised by a VAR review after wrestling Leandro Parades to the floor on that occasion and another consultation with the screen saw Messi awarded a controversial spot-kick after an aerial challenge with Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in Argentina’s third match.
Szczesny ensured justice was done with a magnificent save, although Argentina backed up their 2-0 win over Mexico with a victory by the same scoreline to reach the knockout stages.
Messi and Alvarez scored from open play in the 2-1 win against Australia but, after setting up Nahuel Molina with a glorious pass against the Netherlands, the Paris Saint-Germain forward converted a penalty following Denzel Dumfries’ foul on Marcos Acuna.
MORE: Why Lionel Messi is called Pessi: Social media haters throw shade on Argentina star
Most penalties awarded to one team at a World Cup
After Argentina were awarded a penalty on December 18 in the World Cup final, they moved to the top of the list on their own with five penalties. Previously, they were level on four spot-kicks won with two other sides.
Portugal were awarded four penalties on their way to third place at the 1966 World Cup in England. This is particularly remarkable when you consider there were only eight penalties given in the entire tournament.
That record was tied 12 years later in Argentina. The Netherlands also won four penalties before being beaten by the hosts 3-1 in the 1978 final.
Most penalties for one team in a World Cup
- 5 — Argentina (2022)
- 4 — Netherlands (1978)
- 4 — Portugal (1966)
MORE: Lionel Messi's penalty-kick history
What’s the most penalties scored by a player at a World Cup?
Unlike Messi, Portugal and the Netherlands’ takers in those tournaments returned an unblemished record with four penalty kicks converted each. Messi's heroics in the final also put him on four, and if he'd scored the one against Poland in the group stage he'd be out on his own in this list.
Eusebio (Portugal, 1966)
Portugal great Eusebio scored twice from the spot as his side launched a comeback from 3-0 down to beat surprise package North Korea 5-3 at Goodison Park.
His penalty against England could not avert a 2-1 semifinal loss to the hosts, and Eusebio dispatched another as the Selecao beat the USSR in the third-place match. Penalties put past Gordon Banks (England) and Lev Yashin (USSR) in consecutive matches is no mean feat.
Rob Rensenbrink (Netherlands, 1978)
When Johan Cruyff withdrew from the 1978 World Cup, it created a vacancy on the left of the Dutch front attacking three for Rob Rensenbrink. The Anderlecht winger was also a master penalty taker, scoring two in a 3-0 win against Iran.
He had three penalty goals by the end of the first group stage after scoring against Scotland and did likewise in a 5-1 thumping of Austria.
Most penalties ever in a World Cup?
The VAR age has certainly changed the picture in terms of how frequently penalties are awarded in elite matches.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia was the first where officials were assisted by video technology and a record 29 penalties were awarded over the course of the competition.
That number wasn't beaten at Qatar 2022 despite there being three awarded in a breathtaking final, Messi scored one before Mbappe bagged two. Mbappe's converted penalty in extra-time to seal his hat-trick was the 23rd awarded of the tournament.
That is the second-highest number of penalties at a World Cup, topping 18 apiece at France ‘98 and Japan/South Korea 2002.
Most penalties in a World Cup
- 29 (Russia 2018)
- 23 (Qatar 2022)
- 18 (France 1998)
- 18 (Korea/Japan 2002)
