France Vs Argentina: World Cup 2022 Player Ratings

The 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina was an absolute thriller, guys! A match for the ages, filled with drama, stunning goals, and of course, nail-biting tension that went all the way to penalties. So, let's dive into the player ratings and see who shone brightest, who had a game to forget, and everything in between. Buckle up, because we're about to dissect this epic clash!

Argentina Player Ratings

Let's start with the champions, Argentina! They came into this tournament with a burning desire to give Lionel Messi his deserved World Cup trophy, and boy, did they deliver! Their journey was filled with ups and downs, but in the end, they stood tall. How did each player perform in the final itself?

Emiliano Martínez - 9/10

What can you even say about this guy? "Dibu" Martínez was an absolute monster in goal. He made crucial saves throughout the match, including that incredible stop in the dying seconds of extra time to deny France a winning goal. And then, in the penalty shootout, he did what he does best: psyched out the French players and saved a penalty to help Argentina lift the trophy. He's a legend, plain and simple!

Nahuel Molina - 6/10

Molina had a decent game, providing width and support down the right flank. He wasn't spectacular, but he was solid defensively and contributed to Argentina's overall shape. He did struggle at times with Kylian Mbappé's pace and trickery, but overall, he held his own.

Cristian Romero - 7/10

Romero brought his usual aggression and intensity to the Argentina defense. He was strong in the tackle and made some important clearances. He did give away a penalty, which was a definite low point, but he recovered well and continued to battle throughout the match.

Nicolás Otamendi - 6.5/10

Otamendi, the veteran of the Argentina defense, had a mixed game. He was solid in the air and made some crucial interceptions, but he also made a few rash challenges and was caught out of position at times. He also gave away a penalty, compounding Argentina's woes in the second half.

Nicolás Tagliafico - 6/10

Tagliafico was solid defensively and did his job without making any major errors. He didn't offer much going forward, but his primary responsibility was to keep things tight at the back, and he did that effectively.

Ángel Di María - 8/10

Di María was absolutely electric in the first half! He won the penalty that led to Argentina's first goal and then scored a beautiful goal himself to double their lead. He was a constant threat to the French defense with his pace, skill, and direct running. He was substituted in the second half, but he had already made a huge impact on the game.

Rodrigo De Paul - 7/10

De Paul brought his customary energy and work rate to the Argentina midfield. He was tireless in his running and helped to win back possession. He also played some clever passes to get Argentina moving forward.

Enzo Fernández - 7.5/10

Fernández was excellent in midfield, dictating the tempo of the game and making some incisive passes. He also showed great composure under pressure and was not afraid to put in a tackle. He's been one of the breakout stars of the tournament, and he continued to impress in the final.

Alexis Mac Allister - 7/10

Mac Allister had a solid game in midfield, linking the play between defense and attack. He was always available to receive the ball and played some simple, but effective, passes. He also worked hard defensively to help Argentina win back possession.

Lionel Messi - 9.5/10

What more can you say about this man? Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy, and he deserved every bit of it. He scored two goals in the final, including a penalty, and was a constant threat to the French defense. He led his team with inspiration and determination, and he cemented his place as one of the greatest players of all time. His performance was nothing short of magical and carried his team through an incredibly difficult match.

Julián Álvarez - 6.5/10

Álvarez worked hard up front and caused the French defense some problems with his pace and movement. He didn't get on the scoresheet, but he played his part in Argentina's attacking play.

France Player Ratings

Now, let's turn our attention to France. They came into the final as the defending champions and were determined to retain their title. However, they had a slow start to the game and found themselves two goals down at halftime. They showed great character to fight back and level the score, but ultimately, they fell short in the penalty shootout. How did each player perform?

Hugo Lloris - 5/10

Lloris had a game to forget. He conceded three goals, including two penalties, and didn't make any significant saves. He also failed to save a penalty in the shootout. Not his best performance.

Jules Koundé - 5.5/10

Koundé struggled against Di María in the first half and was substituted at halftime. He didn't offer much going forward and was caught out of position on several occasions.

Raphaël Varane - 6/10

Varane was solid at times, but he also made a few uncharacteristic errors. He struggled to contain Messi and Álvarez, and he didn't look fully fit after recovering from illness.

Dayot Upamecano - 5/10

Upamecano struggled to deal with Argentina's attacking threat and was caught out of position on several occasions. He also made a few rash challenges and didn't look comfortable on the ball.

Theo Hernandez - 5/10

Hernandez had a difficult game defensively and was substituted in the second half. He didn't offer much going forward and was unable to contain Di María's runs.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 6/10

Tchouaméni worked hard in midfield and tried to win back possession, but he was often outnumbered by the Argentine players. He also missed a penalty in the shootout, which was a cruel blow to his team.

Adrien Rabiot - 6.5/10

Rabiot brought energy to the French midfield and made some important tackles and interceptions. He also played some clever passes, but he wasn't able to dictate the game in the same way as Enzo Fernández.

Antoine Griezmann - 5.5/10

Griezmann was largely anonymous in the first half and was substituted in the second half. He didn't have any impact on the game and looked tired and out of sorts.

Ousmane Dembélé - 4/10

Dembélé had a nightmare game. He gave away a penalty and didn't offer anything going forward. He was substituted in the first half and looked completely out of his depth.

Kylian Mbappé - 9.5/10

Mbappé was simply sensational! He scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, and almost single-handedly dragged France back into the game. He was a constant threat to the Argentine defense with his pace, skill, and determination. Despite his incredible performance, it wasn't enough to win the World Cup, but he proved that he is one of the best players in the world. The future is undeniably bright for this young superstar.

Olivier Giroud - 5/10

Giroud didn't have any impact on the game and was substituted in the first half. He struggled to get involved in the attacking play and was well-marshaled by the Argentine defense.

Substitutes Who Made an Impact

• Randal Kolo Muani (France): Came on and won a penalty, almost scored a winner in extra time. A game-changer! 8/10
• Kingsley Coman (France): Added pace and trickery to the French attack. Scored his penalty in the shootout, but ultimately it wasn't enough. 7/10
• Marcus Thuram (France): Provided a different dimension to the French attack. Won the penalty for Mbappé's second goal. 7.5/10
• Paulo Dybala (Argentina): Scored his penalty in the shootout and showed great composure. 6.5/10

Final Thoughts

The 2022 World Cup final was a game for the ages, filled with drama, excitement, and world-class performances. While some players shone brighter than others, it was a true team effort from both sides. Argentina emerged victorious, but France can hold their heads high after putting up a valiant fight. This match will be talked about for years to come, and it will go down in history as one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time! What a ride, guys!