Argentina 1–2 Saudi Arabia
Messi scored a penalty, but Saudi Arabia struck twice early in the second half and defended the lead.
Historic squad guide · Champion
Argentina 2022 World Cup Squad
Argentina's 2022 World Cup squad won the country's third title after recovering from an opening defeat by Saudi Arabia. Lionel Scaloni adjusted personnel and midfield relationships during the competition, allowing Lionel Messi to lead a flexible team that could control possession, attack in transition and survive two penalty shootouts.
Tournament resultChampion
FinalArgentina 3–3 France · 4–2 pens
Tournament record4 wins · 2 draws · 1 loss
Goals scored15
Goals conceded8
CaptainLionel Messi
Top Argentina scorerLionel Messi · 7
Head coachLionel Scaloni
Archive rating80
How the Argentina 2022 team played
Argentina did not use one fixed attacking shape. Enzo Fernández became the deepest midfielder, Rodrigo De Paul covered the right half-space and Alexis Mac Allister progressed from the left. Messi received freedom between midfield and attack, with Julián Álvarez pressing and running beyond him. Ángel Di María provided natural width when selected, while the full-backs adapted their forward movement to the opponent. Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi defended aggressively behind a compact midfield.
Key players
Messi scored seven goals, assisted three and received the Golden Ball. Emiliano Martínez made decisive shootout saves and stopped Randal Kolo Muani late in the final. Álvarez scored four goals after entering the starting XI, Fernández transformed the midfield and Mac Allister created Di María's final goal. De Paul supplied defensive running around Messi, while Di María returned from injury to win a penalty and score in the final.
Legacy of the squad
The title ended Argentina's 36-year wait and completed Messi's World Cup career with a championship. The team showed resilience after the Saudi Arabia defeat and after surrendering two-goal leads against both the Netherlands and France. The final, a 3–3 draw followed by a shootout, became one of the competition's most dramatic matches and established the squad alongside the 1978 and 1986 champions.
Every match from the tournament run
Argentina 2022 World Cup results
Argentina 2–0 Mexico
Messi broke a tense match with a low shot before Fernández scored his first international goal.
Poland 0–2 Argentina
Mac Allister and Álvarez scored as Argentina controlled the match despite Messi's saved penalty.
Argentina 2–1 Australia
Messi and Álvarez scored before Martínez made a late save to prevent an Australian equaliser.
Netherlands 2–2 Argentina · 3–4 pens
Argentina lost a two-goal lead but Martínez saved two penalties in the shootout.
Argentina 3–0 Croatia
Messi scored a penalty and created Álvarez's second goal after the striker had already completed a long individual run.
Argentina 3–3 France · 4–2 pens
Messi scored twice and Di María once before Argentina converted all four shootout penalties to win the title.
Verified lineup from the final
Argentina 2022 World Cup final starting XI
Argentina's final XI used Martínez in goal; Molina, Romero, Otamendi and Tagliafico in defence; De Paul, Fernández and Mac Allister in midfield; Messi with Álvarez and Di María in attack. Di María's selection on the left changed France's defensive reference points and helped Argentina dominate the first half.
- 1Emiliano Martínez
- 2Nahuel Molina
- 3Cristian Romero
- 4Nicolás Otamendi
- 5Nicolás Tagliafico
- 6Rodrigo De Paul
- 7Enzo Fernández
- 8Alexis Mac Allister
- 9Lionel Messi
- 10Julián Álvarez
- 11Ángel Di María
Roles behind the tournament run
Key Argentina 2022 player contributions
Lionel Messi
Scored seven goals, created decisive chances in every knockout round and controlled Argentina's attacking rhythm.
Emiliano Martínez
Made decisive saves against Australia, the Netherlands and France and received the Golden Glove.
Julián Álvarez
Added vertical running and four goals after replacing Lautaro Martínez in the starting XI.
Enzo Fernández
Improved Argentina's build-up, protected central possession and received the Young Player award.
Ángel Di María
Returned to the XI for the final, won a penalty and finished a sweeping team move for Argentina's second goal.
Rodrigo De Paul
Pressed around Messi, covered the right side and helped Argentina control second balls throughout the knockout stage.
Suggested XI generated from archive order
7a0 suggested Argentina 2022 lineup
This playable selection is separate from the verified historical final starting XI shown above.
26 players
Complete Argentina 2022 squad by position
Goalkeepers
- #1ArmaniGK75
- #12RulliGK72
- #23E. MartínezGK92
Defenders
- #2FoythRB / CB77
- #3TagliaficoLB79
- #4MontielRB / RM76
- #6PezzellaCB75
- #8AcuñaLB / LM80
- #13C. RomeroCB84
- #19OtamendiCB81
- #25L. MartínezCB / LB80
- #26MolinaRB / RM78
Midfielders
- #5ParedesDM79
- #7De PaulDM / CM / RM83
- #10MessiAM / ST99
- #11Di MaríaRM / RW / LM84
- #14PalaciosDM / RM77
- #16AlmadaLM / AM / LW73
- #17Papu GómezLM / AM / LW76
- #18Guido RodríguezDM77
- #20Mac AllisterCM / LM / AM81
- #24Enzo FernándezDM / CM / RM82
Forwards
- #9J. ÁlvarezST / RW84
- #15CorreaRW / ST / LW76
- #21DybalaRW / ST / AM79
- #22LautaroST / LW82
Legend markers in 7a0
Featured legends
Messi
Argentina 2022 FAQ
Who started for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final?
Argentina's starting XI in the 2022 final was Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, and Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, and Ángel Di María. They defeated France 4–2 on penalties following an epic 3–3 draw at Lusail Stadium.
How many goals did Lionel Messi score at the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Messi scored seven goals and recorded three assists, winning the tournament Golden Ball for the second time in his career. He became the first player in history to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final of a single World Cup.
What awards did Argentina players win at the 2022 tournament?
Argentina swept the individual awards: Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball (Best Player), Emiliano Martínez won the Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper), and Enzo Fernández won the Young Player Award. Kylian Mbappé of France claimed the Golden Boot with eight goals.
What crucial saves did Emiliano Martínez make in the 2022 final?
Emiliano Martínez made an iconic 123rd-minute outstretched left-leg save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in a clean one-on-one breakaway with seconds remaining in extra time. In the penalty shootout, Martínez saved Kingsley Coman's spot-kick and pressured Aurélien Tchouaméni to shoot wide.
Why was Ángel Di María's tactical role so decisive in the final?
Manager Lionel Scaloni surprisingly deployed Di María on the left wing to isolate French defender Jules Koundé and exploit open space behind Ousmane Dembélé. Di María won Messi's 23rd-minute penalty and finished a breathtaking team counter-attack in the 36th minute to make it 2–0.
How did Argentina recover after losing to Saudi Arabia?
Argentina rebounded from an opening 2–1 upset against Saudi Arabia by winning six consecutive matches, starting with pivotal 2–0 group stage victories over Mexico and Poland. Scaloni adapted the lineup by inserting Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez, and Alexis Mac Allister into starting roles.
How many goals did Julián Álvarez score in 2022?
Julián Álvarez scored four goals after taking over the starting center-forward role from Lautaro Martínez midway through the tournament. His highlights included a brace in the 3–0 semifinal win over Croatia, featuring a remarkable 60-meter solo run through the entire defense.
Who was Argentina's manager and captain for the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Scaloni managed the team and Lionel Messi served as captain, ending Argentina's 36-year wait for a third world championship. At age 44, Scaloni became the youngest manager to win the World Cup since César Luis Menotti in 1978.
What ratings does Lionel Messi have in the 7a0 game database?
Lionel Messi holds a 95 force rating in 7a0, accompanied by Emiliano Martínez and Ángel Di María with 90 and 89 ratings, and Julián Álvarez at 88. The 2022 squad achieves an elite overall attacking rating of 92 in the 7a0 simulation engine.
How can I simulate the Argentina 2022 squad in 7a0?
Select Argentina 2022 in the tournament section of 7a0 to recruit Messi, Di María, Álvarez, and Martínez into your active roster. You can experiment with Scaloni's fluid 4-3-3 / 4-4-2 formations and simulate high-stakes knockout shootouts.
Sources and editorial review
Editorial review: 7a0.online
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25
Historical results and lineups are checked against the cited records. Player ratings, position eligibility and suggested lineups are independent 7a0 editorial values.