Argentina’s wild win over France in the 2022 World Cup final proved to bemore than just another soccer game. It was a showdown that took an emerging rivalry to a new level and might have given us the greatest final in the history of team sports. Argentina clinched the victory in a nail-biting penalty shootout after a 3-3 tie, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé putting on a show for the ages.
Throughout their history, Argentina and France faced each other 13 times, and the records show a long-time competitive rivalry between the two countries: Argentina has snagged 7 wins, France has taken 3, and there have been 3 draws. The tension has always been there, and since that epic 2022 World Cup final, everyone’s been talking about it. Let’s look at how this rivalry came about and what’s been keeping the fire burning since that day.
The 2018 World Cup: Setting the stage for a rematch
Before their dramatic 2022 final, Argentina and France had already faced off in the 2018 World Cup during the Round of 16. France knocked Argentina out of the tournament with a 4-3 win, thanks in part to a young Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice and showed off his incredible speed. It felt like a changing of the guard — or as some might say, a “passing of the torch”— with the up-and-coming star Mbappé looking like he was about to take over the spotlight, while Argentina's players (including Messi) seemed to be running out of steam.
Four years later, the 2022 final felt like a rematch, with Argentina coming back for revenge. France was looking to hold onto their top spot and win back-to-back World Cups, while Argentina had a different mission: giving Lionel Messi the ultimate prize of his career. This time, Messi’s experience made the difference (he scored 7 goals in 7 matches) and proved that the “passing of the torch” would have to wait.
Messi or Mbappé: Who’s really the best?
Messi and Mbappé have become the faces of the Argentina–France rivalry. After the madness of the 2022 final, the debate over who’s the world’s best player cranked up even more. Messi, already considered one of the greatest of all time, finally picked up his first World Cup, pretty much cementing his legendary status. Meanwhile, Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in that final (making him the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score three times in a World Cup final), showed that he’s a force to be reckoned with as he grabbed the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer. Still, in a way, Messi scooped the World Cup away from Mbappé and kept the young star from staking his claim as the undisputed best.
And it was more than just their national teams going head-to-head. From 2021 to 2023, Messi and Mbappé were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Even though they wore the same jersey, there was always a sense of competition. While Messi kept racking up Ballon d’Ors — he actually reached a record-extending total of eight — Mbappé stayed in the running but never quite snagged the prize. It kind of felt like Messi’s wins were blocking Mbappé’s path to being the top player, which only made the proceedings more intense.
Celebrations that stoked the flames
The rivalry didn’t just stay on the field. It blew up even more thanks to Argentina's rowdy celebrations after winning the 2022 World Cup. Goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez was at the center of it all. He made headlines with some eyebrow-raising antics, like holding the Golden Glove trophy in front of his groin during the ceremony and later mocking Mbappé with a doll of the French star’s face during Argentina's victory parade. When asked about his controversial gesture, Martínez explained, “I did it because the French were booing me. Arrogance doesn't go with me”.
These moments didn’t sit well with many French fans, who thought Martínez’s behavior was a bit much. The rivalry also took a darker turn when footage emerged of Argentina players singing about Mbappé being “dead” after the final (“A minute of silence for… Mbappé who is dead”). The tension spilled into other games and competitions, and since then, Argentina’s national teams often face unfriendly receptions in France.
European criticism and South American pride
This rivalry goes far beyond two players or one wild celebration.t truly reflects the bigger divide between European and South American soccer. Before the 2022 World Cup, some European players, including Mbappé, were bashing South America’s status, and claimed that South American teams didn’t face the same level of competition as in Europe. Belgium’s Thomas Meunier even suggested that winning the Euro Cup was harder than winning the World Cup. These comments rubbed many South Americans the wrong way, as they saw them as disrespectful to the history and passion of South American soccer.
Argentina’s World Cup win became a matter of pride for South America, as they became the first non-European team to win the World Cup since Brazil in 2002. It was a statement to those who doubted the quality of South American soccer: “We can still beat the best you've got.”
Tensions at the 2024 Olympics: booing in Paris
Just weeks ago, the 2024 Paris Olympics became the latest chapter in this fiery rivalry, with French fans still holding on to that sting from the World Cup loss. Every time Argentina touched the ball, the boos rained down, as if to remind them they weren’t on friendly turf. The Olympic soccer tournament turned into more than just a competition; it was like a grudge match, with French supporters hoping to get a little payback. The atmosphere was hostile, and things boiled over after the final whistle when tensions led to clashes between players from both teams. The 2024 Olympics made clear that the Argentina-France rivalry has gone bigger than just a few matches — it has turned into something deeper and more personal.
Source: Reuters
Looking ahead: the 2026 World Cup and beyond
As the 2026 World Cup gets closer, set to be hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., Argentina and France are definitely two teams to watch. With Messi still going strong and Mbappé growing even more influential, the rivalry shows no signs of slowing down. Both teams are stacked with talent, and another face-off could very probably be on the table.
At the heart of this rivalry is none other than Lionel Messi. For many fans, the 2022 World Cup final was his big “mic drop” moment — a way to put an exclamation point on his already legendary career. But even with retirement not too far off, he’s still playing at a dizzying high level, which hasn’t made it easy for younger stars like Mbappé to take over as the world’s best.
With Messi’s career winding down, supporters of both Argentina and France are watching closely as his performances continue to fuel the rivalry. The good news here is that fans can hold onto Messi’s remarkable legacy through memories of his great plays and with a tangible piece of his career as well.. The Join The Planet collectible boot, crafted from recycled ocean plastic and featuring Messi’s signature, offers a unique way to connect with his legacy while supporting environmental efforts.
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As the rivalry heats up, it's hard to ignore the impact Messi has on this story. He’s still the icon that many younger players, like Mbappé, aspire to be. So, if you want to celebrate this legendary rivalry and hold onto a piece of Messi’s legacy, check out the limited-edition Join The Planet boot.
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