Martinez the hero as Argentina win World Cup

Argentina are champions of the world after beating defending champions France 4-2 on penalties in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022, with Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez one of their heroes.

Martinez produced a crucial block in the last minutes of extra-time to keep the score at 3-3 and send the match to a shootout, where for the second time in the tournament in Qatar he produced a save to help his country win. 

Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead from the spot on 23 minutes. 

Former Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria added a superb second on 36 minutes, after being played in by Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister.

That made Mac Allister just the fifth Premier League player to assist a goal in a World Cup final after Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas and Andre Schurrle.

France fought back through two late goals from Kylian Mbappe, but needed Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to make a superb save to deny Messi in the final minute and take the match into extra-time. 

See: Premier League player World Cup tracker

Messi again gave Argentina the lead, but Mbappe restored parity by becoming the first player to score a World Cup final hat-trick since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.

France almost won it at the death, but Martinez, who was named goalkeeper of the tournament, superbly denied substitute Randal Kolo Muani with an outstretched leg.

In the shootout, the Villa 'keeper stopped Kingsley Coman's spot-kick to inspire Argentina to their third World Cup success.

Three other Premier League players will also return to their clubs as world champions: Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez; Spurs defender Cristian Romero; and Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez.