The 2022 FIFA World Cup was hosted in Qatar between the 20th November 2022 and the 18th December 2022. The competition was surrounded by controversy from a number of different sources, with the majority of the protest coming prior to the competition starting and in the opening round of Group Stage matches.
Many were billing this as the last World Cup where legendary players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric would appear. Alongside that, a wave of exciting young prospects, such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, looked set to show off on the grandest stage in football. For this reason many suggested that this World Cup would see the baton passed between the old and new generations.
Brazil were widely tipped as favourites heading into the competition, with a strong squad containing experienced players and young talent. France and Argentina were always in the mix too, even despite a slew of injuries for the French side.
Who won the 2022 World Cup?
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup final on penalties against France. Their win meant that national hero, Lionel Messi, was able to lift the World Cup trophy – completing the set, and winning everything it was possible for him to have won in his career.
Argentina were 2-0 up at half time after a penalty was slotted home by Messi and a beautifully worked attacking movement allowed Angel Di Maria to pop the ball over helpless French keeper, Hugo Lloris. France were unable to make an impact for the first 75 minutes of the game, but a sloppy penalty converted by wonderkid, Kylian Mbappe, pulled them back into the game. 90 seconds later, the PSG starlet popped up again, with a superbly taken volley from the edge of the box which levelled the game.
In extra time, Lionel Messi looked set to have wrapped the game up for his side once more, bundling the ball over the line after another well-worked attacking move. France may have been down, but they were not out, and another French penalty was awarded after an Argentine defender charged down the ball with his elbow. Mr Mbappe stepped up again, and converted coolly to scored the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Penalties, then. Argentina fired home all four, but Kingsley Coman's effort was saved and Aurelien Tchouameni was no match for the mind games of Emiliano Martinez. 4-2, and the World Cup was booked on a flight to South America.
Who won the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot?
Kylian Mbappe took home the Golden Boot, pipping Lionel Messi at the death with a hat-trick in the World Cup final. Mbappe scored eight goals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first time a Golden Boot winner had won with eight goals since Ronaldo 20 years earlier.
Lionel Messi was second, with 7 goals, including two in the final game. Julian Alvarez and Olivier Giroud were joint in third place, with four goals apiece.
Who won the 2022 World Cup Golden Ball?
Lionel Messi took home the Golden Ball – the trophy given to the best player at the tournament. It was Messi's second time winning the trophy, taking one home from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, despite his side missing out on the trophy in the final.
Kylian Mbappe won the Silver Ball award, while Luka Modric was awarded the Bronze Ball on the back of his Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup.
Who won the 2022 World Cup Golden Glove?
Argentina's Emiliano Martinez took home the Golden Glove award at the 2022 World Cup. He had a total of three clean sheets, although he's probably more likely to be remembered for his unusual celebration after receiving the award than the performances which got him there.
Who won the 2022 World Cup FIFA Young Player award?
Argentine midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, took home the accolade for the best young player at the tournament. Fernandez played a part throughout the tournament, despite being just 21-years-old. After bagging a goal against Mexico and an assist against Poland in Argentina's group games, Fernandez went on to play every minute of the knockout rounds, proving himself to be an integral part of the sides' midfield.
Every World Cup 2022 Fixture
Group Stage
Sunday 20th November
Qatar vs Ecuador [0-2]
Monday 21st November
England vs Iran [6-2]
Senegal vs Netherlands [0-2]
United States vs Wales [1-1]
Tuesday 22nd November
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia [1-2]
Denmark vs Tunisia [0-0]
Mexico vs Poland [0-0]
France vs Australia [4-1]
Wednesday 23rd November
Morocco vs Croatia [0-0]
Germany vs Japan [1-2]
Spain vs Costa Rica [7-0]
Belgium vs Canada [1-0]
Thursday 24th November
Switzerland vs Cameroon [1-0]
Uruguay vs South Korea [0-0]
Portugal vs Ghana [3-2]
Brazil vs Serbia [2-0]
Friday 25th November
Wales vs Iran [0-2]
Qatar vs Senegal [1-3]
Netherlands vs Ecuador [1-1]
England vs United States [0-0]
Saturday 26th November
Tunisia vs Australia [0-1]
Poland vs Saudi Arabia [2-0]
France vs Denmark [2-1]
Argentina vs Mexico [2-0]
Sunday 27th November
Japan vs Costa Rica [0-1]
Belgium vs Morocco [0-2]
Croatia vs Canada [4-1]
Spain vs Germany [1-1]
Monday 28th November
Cameroon vs Serbia [3-3]
South Korea vs Ghana [2-3]
Brazil vs Switzerland [1-0]
Portugal vs Uruguay [2-0]
Tuesday 29th November
Ecuador vs Senegal [1-2]
Netherlands vs Qatar [2-0]
Iran vs United States [0-1]
Wales vs England [0-3]
Wednesday 30th November
Tunisia vs France [1-0]
Australia vs Denmark [1-0]
Poland vs Argentina [0-2]
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico [1-2]
Thursday 1st December
Canada vs Morocco [1-2]
Croatia vs Belgium [0-0]
Japan vs Spain [2-1]
Costa Rica vs Germany [2-4]
Friday 2nd December
Ghana vs Uruguay [0-2]
South Korea vs Portugal [2-1]
Serbia vs Switzerland [2-3]
Cameroon vs Brazil [1-0]
Knockout Round
Saturday 3rd December
Netherlands vs United States [3-1]
Argentina vs Australia [2-1]
Sunday 4th December
France vs Poland [3-1]
England vs Senegal [3-0]
Monday 5th December
Japan vs Croatia [1-1p]
Brazil vs South Korea [4-1]
Tuesday 6th December
Morocco vs Spain [p0-0]
Portugal vs Switzerland [6-1]
Quarter Finals
Friday 9th December
Croatia vs Brazil [p1-1]
Netherlands vs Argentina [2-2p]
Saturday 10th December
Morocco vs Portugal [1-0]
England vs France [1-2]
Semi Finals
Tuesday 13th December
Argentina vs Croatia [3-0]
Wednesday 14th December
France vs Morocco [2-0]
Third-Place Playoff
Saturday 17th December
Croatia vs Morocco [2-1]
2022 World Cup Final
Sunday 18th December
Argentina vs France [p3-3]
