ESPN.com · Dec 18, 2022
Why Messi's legend didn't need the World Cup
LUSAIL, Qatar -- Kylian Mbappe had converted France's first penalty in the shootout, the fourth time he'd beaten Argentina keeper Emi Martinez in the World Cup final, following his earlier hat-trick. And so Lionel Messi walked up to take Argentina's opening penalty.
- Report: Messi, Argentina win 2022 World Cup on penalties over France
Conventional wisdom suggests you generally want your best penalty takers to go last or, at least, when facing elimination. But there was nothing conventional or wise about this final or, come to think of it, this World Cup.