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Mac Allister becomes first Albion player to win World Cup

Argentinian midfielder stars in his country's victory over France.

By BHAFC • 18 December 2022

By Kieran McManus/Shutterstock
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain's late goal.

Albion's Alexis Mac Allister is a World Cup winner. 

The mercurial midfielder played a starring role with an assist and a magnificent display alongside Lionel Messi as Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after what is being called the greatest World Cup final in history finished 3-3 after extra time.

The Albion man got the assist with a perfectly-weighted pass for Angel Di Maria to put a dominant La Albiceleste 2-0 up, but the reigning champions, inspired by Kylian Mbappe, responded with two goals in as many minutes late on to send the game into extra time.

By Georgi Licovski/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Angel Di Maria benefitted from a fine pass to tuck home Argentina's second goal of the evening.

Lionel Messi scrambled the ball home from close range to make it 3-2 in extra time, but when Mbappe’s effort from the edge of the box struck Gonzalo Montiel’s arm, the Frenchman made no mistake from the resulting penalty to become the first player since Geoff Hurst to net a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

Mac Allister was withdrawn just prior to France’s equaliser after a scintillating display, with penalties the only way to separate the teams.

Argentina tucked away all their spot-kicks, but misses from Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman ensured a 4-2 win on penalties and a first World Cup win for Argentina since 1986.

Congratulations, Alexis!