What Are the Top 10 Championship Games Since 2010? Part 4

Argentina got the first big opportunity of the game about 21 minutes in. Lionel Messi got a penalty kick after France tripped Angel Di Maria of Argentina. He cashed in, inching closer to the big trophy that had eluded him throughout his illustrious career.

Di Maria would later score himself on a pass from Alexis Mac Allister, putting Argentina up 2-0 about 36 minutes into the game.

Back-to-Back Goals for Mbappe

If Argentina thought they were in the clear, though, they were sorely mistaken. Julian Alvarez and Messi both had a chance to put them up 3-0 in the span of about a minute, but neither could convert at a bad angle. Alvarez then set up Mac Allister beautifully a few minutes later, only to have the chance thwarted by French goalie Hugo Lloris. 

Mbappe had a decent look at the 70-minute mark, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. It looked hopeless for France, but they would get the break they had been searching for 79 minutes into the game. Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina tripped France’s Randal Kolo Muani close to the goal. Of course, Kylian Mbappe would take the penalty kick. He nailed it, putting France within striking distance.

Just about a minute later, Kingsley Coman would steal the ball from Lionel Messi, giving the ball right back to Mbappe, who would tie the game at two apiece. Just like that, Argentina was on thin ice. They lost their lead, and with it their momentum.

Past 90 Minutes

Argentina suffered another massive scare at the 93:41 mark, where Enzo Fernandez could’ve easily been penalized after tripping France’s Kingsley Coman. Argentina goalie Emiliano Martinez then saved a great shot from Adrien Rabiot without allowing a rebound. Three minutes later, Lloris saved a bullet from Messi.

Later, Lautaro Martinez almost put Argentina ahead with only Lloris in front of him, but his shot went wide. The game had long passed regulation, and the opportunities were better and coming faster than ever, but no one could convert. 

Lautaro Martinez would get yet another fantastic look about 108 minutes into the game. Lloris saved it, but the rebound went right to Messi. Jules Kounde was back to help France save it, but he was way beyond the goal line. Argentina regained the lead, 3-2.

Once again, though, Argentina couldn’t hold the lead. Mbappe sank another penalty shot after Gonzalo Montiel accidentally blocked his shot with a forearm. Randal Kolo Muani then had a massive chance to give France the victory, centered up with only Emiliano Martinez in front of him. Martinez stuck out his leg for the save of his career, sending the game to a shootout.

Argentina would win the shootout 4-2 in the greatest game in World Cup history.

1. 2025 World Series Game 7: LA Dodgers def. Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 (11 Innings)

Anyone who thought the 11-inning classic from the 2011 World Series was nuts was in for a treat with this game. That game was more chaotic, but this game had more plays with EVERYTHING on the line on each singular play.

The Dodgers were looking to go back-to-back with a win in this game. They beat the Yankees the previous year, but the Blue Jays were putting up a much tougher fight against arguably the best roster ever. The Blue Jays even led the series twice at 1-0 and 3-2.

Hot Start

Former two-time World Series champion Max Scherzer was on the mound for the Blue Jays, while Shohei Ohtani started for the Dodgers. The Dodgers would be rotating through multiple starters in this game due to their unreliable bullpen.

Shohei Ohtani and George Springer both led off with hits for their respective teams. Springer was thrown out trying to steal second base on a 3-2 count after slowing down because he thought Ohtani walked Vladimir Guerrero Jr., when Ohtani actually struck him out. The Blue Jays would apply pressure in the second but leave the bases loaded.

Toronto drew first blood in the third inning when Bo Bichette launched a three-run homer into center field and chased Ohtani off the mound. The home crowd responded with deafening cheers.

In the bottom of the fourth, Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski threw two pitches near Andres Gimenez’s hands, the second of which hit Gimenez. This incited a benches-clearing confrontation between the two teams, but no punches were thrown. Tyler Glasnow closed out the inning as the third Dodgers pitcher in the game already.

Game 7 Gets Spicier

Trey Yesavage, one of the Blue Jays’ top starting pitchers, entered the game for Toronto in the top of the seventh. The standout rookie got through the inning but got into trouble in the eighth, giving up a solo shot to Max Muncy. The home run cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, Blake Snell became the next starting pitcher to enter the game, as he replaced Emmet Sheehan for the Dodgers. Max Muncy helped get the first of three straight outs with a runner on second, catching an infield line drive by Andres Gimenez.

In the ninth, the Blue Jays were two outs from a World Series win, but the Dodgers weren’t done yet. Miguel Rojas, the bottom of the Dodger order, worked a 3-2 count and then drilled a home run to left field to tie the game. Toronto fell silent.

The Greatest Inning of All Time

The Dodgers weren’t able to notch any extra runs in the top of the ninth, but had to face Vlad to start the bottom of the ninth. Vlad almost hit a walk-off home run to center field, but it fell short. Then, however, two Blue Jays got on base, putting L.A. in heavy danger.

Now in desperation mode, the Dodgers turned to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the series’ top pitcher, who had just started the previous night and threw 96 pitches!

Yamamoto hit Alejandro Kirk, the first batter he faced. So now the bases were loaded with one out, and manager Dave Roberts made the decision to replace Tommy Edman with Andy Pages in the outfield. It turned out to be a crucial decision. But first, Miguel Rojas got to be the hero again.

Daulton Varsho grounded the ball to Rojas. Seeing as the whole infield was in and shortstop Mookie Betts would not make it to second in time for a double play, Rojas lasered the ball to Will Smith, the catcher at home. He beat Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the runner on third base, by mere milliseconds, to the point where the umpires went to replay to confirm the call. Smith had actually lifted his foot off home plate, but put it back down in time for the force-out.

The bases were still loaded, now with two outs, and Yamamoto had to face Ernie Clement, who had set a record for most postseason hits ever. Clement hit the ball all the way to the warning track, but Andy Pages tracked it down and caught it over Kike Hernandez as the two collided. Dave Roberts’ substitution had paid off.

Past Midnight, Into Extras

The Dodgers loaded the bases themselves in the 10th inning with one out, but Andres Gimenez threw the ball to home in time for the force-out. Then, Kike Hernandez grounded a ball to Vlad Guerrero near first base, who tossed the ball to pitcher Seranthony Dominguez. Dominguez, running quickly to first, beat Hernandez by half a step.

In the top of the 11th, Will Smith hit a go-ahead home run off Shane Bieber to give the Dodgers their first lead of the game, 5-4. The Blue Jays had runners at the corners in the bottom of the 11th, but Alejandro Kirk grounded into a double play, and the Dodgers won.

Yamamoto ended the series with a 1.02 ERA, but he wasn’t the only hero. Miguel Rojas, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Andy Pages were all involved in game-changing plays. This game was undoubtedly the greatest sports game of the 21st century, not just the best championship game since 2010, and we will never see another game like it.

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