Argentina wins an incredible final on penalties.
Argentina won their 3rd World Cup in an impressive way, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw as Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as the holders came back from 2-0 down after 80 minutes.
It was an incredible night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, delivering one of the all-time grand finals to cap a fantastic tournament.
In the first half, Angel Di Maria's brilliant goal put Argentina in total control after Messi's penalty. However, Mbappe scored an equalizer a minute later after converting an 80th-minute penalty. After Messi put Argentina ahead again, Mbappe equalized with another penalty, becoming the second man since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman's penalty, and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide to give Gonzalo Montiel a chance to win it, which he gladly took.
At the fifth and final time of asking, Messi, 35, finally won the World Cup trophy that both he and his nation had longed for after his record 26th match. After the country's first football God carried them to their emotional 2nd triumph in 1986 after their first triumph in 1978, he was lifted up alongside Diego Maradona as he was lifted up alongside him.
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