A sensational World Cup 2022 final has seen the Qatar tournament become the most prolific World Cup in history with a whopping 172 goals.
The destiny of the 18-karat gold trophy was decided at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday, as France sought to become just the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups against Argentina.
A total of six goals were scored in an enthralling 120 minutes of football, as Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria put Argentina in cruise control during the first half.
A rapid-fire brace from Kylian Mbappe incredibly drew the 2018 champions level as extra-time loomed, and Messi managed to prod the ball over the line with 108 minutes on the clock.
Jules Kounde had blasted the ball clear, but only after it had crossed the line, although there was time for a sixth goal in an unforgettable climax as Mbappe made it a hat-trick from the spot in the 118th minute.
Missed penalties from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni in the shootout would prove costly for France, who succumbed to a trophy-clinching Gonzalo Montiel spot kick as Argentina won their third World Cup title.
With another six strikes flying into the back of the net in the final, the 2022 World Cup has cemented its place in folklore as the most prolific tournament of its kind in history with 172 goals.
A total of 171 goals were scored in the 1998 and 2014 events, and France end the tournament as the most prolific team with 16 of the 172 goals over the past three weeks.
Argentina sit behind the losing finalists with 15 goals of their own in Qatar, while England found the back of the net 13 times to take the bronze medal in that category.
Portugal (12) and the Netherlands (10) were the only other two teams to hit double figures at the 2022 World Cup, while Spain and Brazil netted nine and eight respectively.
All 32 teams managed to find the back of the net at the 2022 World Cup, but five nations - Qatar, Belgium, Denmark, Tunisia and Wales - only notched up one goal before bowing out in the group stage.
Mbappe's hat trick in the final sees him end the tournament as the highest individual goalscorer with eight goals, scooping the Golden Boot award in the process after finishing one above Messi (seven).
Meanwhile, Argentina number one Emiliano Martinez - who saved from Coman in the final shootout - won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper, and Enzo Fernandez scooped the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Finally, Argentina talisman Messi won the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament to go alongside a World Cup winners' medal in his final game in the competition. body check tags ::
