Argentine dreams crystallized and then, suddenly, in 96 seconds, were paralyzed, as “the game for eternity” descended into madness at 7:40 p.m. Argentine dreams crystallized and then, suddenly, in 96 seconds, they were paralyzed.
Kylian Mbappe momentarily shattered them. Lionel Messi rekindled them with what could have been a storybook goal, to put Argentina ahead 3-2 in extra time. But Mbappé equalized from the penalty with minutes remaining.
And so the game went to penalties.
And so, up stepped the Argentine hero, Emi Martinez.
The goalkeeper, nicknamed “Dibu,” sprung to his right to push away Kingsley Coman’s second spot-kick for France, after Messi and Mbappé had converted. He pranced around the penalty area, pumping his fist in the air. He then shimmied after his sheer size forced Aurelien Tchouameni, France’s next taker, to drag his penalty wide.
Marcus Thuram then scored for France, but Argentina had been invincible. Gonzalo Montiel scored the winner. Messi fell to his knees. Teammates crowded around him. He had done it. Finally, he and Argentina had done it. They are world champions.
