Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead and scored again in extra time. Kylian Mbappé answered with a hat-trick, including two penalties, to drag France back into the contest. The repeated shifts in control gave the final its remarkable shape: neither side could land a decisive blow over 120 minutes.
Then came Emiliano Martínez’s stop against Randal Kolo Muani, a last-gasp intervention that preserved Argentina’s chance. In the shootout, Martínez saved Kingsley Coman’s kick, and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed before Gonzalo Montiel converted the winner. The final delivered individual brilliance, jeopardy and a champion-all in one night.
The ranking also points to matches whose drama came from different sources:
Those games offer comebacks, rivalries and individual performances. Argentina-France combines all three, while the penalty shootout gave its final act a clear resolution.
The next match to challenge its place will need more than goals: it will need momentum swings, defining moments and stakes that keep the outcome uncertain until the end.