Entertainment world reacts as Argentina beat France to win the 2022 World Cup

18 December, 2022

Argentina have beaten France to win the 2022 World Cup, after the game went to penalties – here’s how the entertainment world reacted.

Argentina were winning for a majority of the game, after Lionel Messi scored in the 23rd minute followed by a goal from his teammate Angel Di Maria in the 36th minute. However, France’s Mbabbé scored two goals in 90 seconds to force the match into extra time.

Argentina once again took the lead in the 108th minute with a Lionel Messi goal but Mbabbé equalised ten-minutes later, making him only the second ever player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. The match, which took place at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium, ended in a penalty shootout that Argentina ultimately won.

Hugh Jackman called it a “sensational tournament with herculean efforts by both teams” while Architects’ Sam Carter said: “What a truly unbelievable game of football! Best final I’ve ever seen. Congratulations Argentina.”

“Can’t believe I just watched a 10 year debate end in a few minutes,” said Dave, referring to the ongoing debate about who is a better striker, Messi or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Argentina’s win also sees the end of the “Drake Curse”. The rapper has a longstanding history of backing the wrong team in high-profile sporting events but earlier today (December 18) he shared a $1million (£823,500) bet on Argentina winning the World Cup which has since paid off.

See a range of reactions to the 2022 World Cup Final below.

The 2022 World Cup kicked off last month but has been plagued by criticisms of corruption, while Qatar’s views on homosexuality and the alleged deaths of thousands of migrant workers has also caused a backlash.

In the run-up to the tournament beginning, Dua Lipa denied rumours that she was to perform at the opening ceremony and called on Qatar to “fulfil all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup,” while Rod Stewart revealed that he also turned down the opportunity to be a part of the celebrations for moral reasons.

Comedian Joe Lycett threatened to shred £10,000 if Beckham didn’t pull out of his lucrative contract as an ambassador in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. When the former England footballer didn’t respond, Lycett appeared to destroy the money in a subsequent livestream. However, he later revealed the destroyed money was actually fake, with the £10,000 instead donated to LGBTQ+ charities before he even proposed the ultimatum.

Meanwhile Morgan Freeman was heavily criticised for helping to officially launch the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Earlier in the tournament, it was announced that England and Wales would no longer wear ‘OneLove’ armbands during matches, which were designed as a gesture to support LGBT+ rights, but has now seen teams threatened with sanctions by FIFA for wearing them. At their match with Japan, the German team protested by wearing rainbows on their boots and training kit and covering their mouths in a team photo.

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