World Cup 2018: The 'Alternative' Awards

Most Entertaining Game: France 4-3 Argentina

Another World Cup, more disappointment for Lionel Messi

While many would have awarded this to Belgium’s wonderful comeback against Japan, that game had an absolutely dismal first-half before the incredible thrill of the second. Instead, the most entertaining game was one which was extremely exhilarating: the Round of 16 encounter between France and Argentina.

The game had everything as an incredibly organised and efficient French side came up against a mercurial Argentine team who also happened to have one of the greatest players of all time.

From the beginning, it produced one of the best moments of the World Cup as Kylian Mbappe ripped through the Argentine midfield and defence before being felled by Marcos Rojo. Antoine Griezmann duly converted the resulting penalty.

At that moment, most assumed that France’s brilliant defence would be able to hold the lead. That seemed to true before Angel Di Maria scored a superb equalizer from distance. Then the inexplicable happened: a Messi shot was deflected in by Gabriel Mercado and suddenly Argentina were up against a supposedly unflappable French side.

At that moment, France needed a moment of brilliance and boy did they get it. Benjamin Pavard thundered in an exquisite volley to bring Les Blues level. From then onwards it was the Kylian Mbappe show as the Golden Boy grabbed a brace to send Argentina and Messi home.

It was truly a game that had everything.