Argentina won the final 4–2 on penalties in Lusail, Qatar after the match finished 3–3 after 120 minutes of action, with Messi scoring twice and Kylian Mbappe netting a hat-trick for France.
Poland’s first referee to officiate in a World Cup final, Szymon Marczyniak, faced criticism from the French media that he should have disallowed Messi’s extra-time goal as two of Argentina’s substitutes pitched in before the ball went into the net. Appeared to be entering.
French newspaper L’Equipe noted Law 3, paragraph 9, of the International Football Association Board, which includes that the referee must disallow a goal if a substitute player was on the field of play when the goal was scored.
Marciniak responded to the criticism in a unique way.