'It's an historic moment' - Argentina coach Scaloni proud of thrilling World Cup triumph

Tearful manager pays tribute to his players after shoot-out win against France

Lionel Messi holds up the trophy after Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after beating France. AP

France's Kylian Mbappe walks past the trophy at the end of the match. AP

Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament. AP

Argentina celebrate victory at Lusail Stadium. Getty

Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the trophy after beating France 4-2 on penalties. EPA

Argentina celebrate victory. AP

Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates with World Cup trophy. PA

Kylian Mbappe of France with his Golden Boot award for finishing as the tournament's top scorer. EPA

Argentina players celebrate after winning the World Cup final penalty shoot-out against France. Getty

Argentina players celebrate victory. Getty

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi celebrate after winning the World Cup. Reuters

Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring the winning penalty against France. Getty

Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring during the penalty shoot-out against France. Reuters

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves from Kingsley Coman of France in the penalty shoot-out. Getty

Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in the penalty shoot-out. Getty

Emiliano Martinez of Argentina celebrates after saving Kingsley Coman's penalty. Getty

Kylian Mbappe completes his hat-trick from the spot to make it 3-3. Getty

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his, and France's, third goal. Getty

Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Getty

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. Getty

Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Reuters

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. PA

Argentina's Lionel Messi goes for a high challenge on Eduardo Camavinga of France. Getty

Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina's third. AFP

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is beaten by the penalty of France's Kylian Mbappe. Getty

Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's second goal. PA

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani of France giving away a penalty. Getty

Kylian Mbappe volleys home France's second goal. Getty

Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria skips past the challenge of France's Antoine Griezmann. PA

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the first France goal. Getty

Kylian Mbappe scores France's first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. Reuters

Argentina's Lionel Messi sends France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the spot. Getty

France's Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi of Argentina. Getty

Angel Di Maria scores for Argentina in the first-half. Getty

France's Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Adrien Rabiot after Argentina made it 2-0. PA

Argentina's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on his knees. Reuters

Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico and Randal Kolo Muani fight for the ball. AP

Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty

Lionel Messi is mobbed by Argentina teammates after scoring. Getty

France's Jules Kounde heads the ball. AP

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty

Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria earns a penalty after going down under the challenge of France's Ousmane Dembele. Getty

France's Olivier Giroud shakes hands with manager Didier Deschamps after being substituted in the first half. PA

Lionel Messi scores from the spot for Argentina. PA

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a first-half penalty for Argentina. Getty

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saves from Argentina's Julian Alvarez. AP

France manager Didier Deschamps, left, with his Argentina counterpart Lionel Scaloni before the game. AP

Argentina players before the match. AP

France players before the match. Getty

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to his “unbelievable” players after their incredible World Cup final victory against France, at the same time telling his country to enjoy the moment of a third global success.

Argentina seemed set for a first World Cup win in 36 years at Lusail Stadium on Sunday, when they charged to a 2-0 lead against the reigning champions. Lionel Messi, their captain, scored from the spot and Angel Di Maria added a second to give the South Americans a 2-0 lead at half-time.

However, France rebounded late on with two quick-fire goals – 97 seconds separated them – from Kylian Mbappe to force extra-time.

Messi then scored again before Mbappe struck a second penalty for his side to push the contest to the shoot-out. There, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman, Aurelien Tchouameni sent his spot-kick wide, leaving Argentina defender Gonzalo Montiel to seal the most memorable of wins.

Speaking immediately afterwards to TV, a tearful Scaloni said: "I cannot believe that we have suffered so much in a perfect game. Unbelievable, but this team responds to everything.

"I am proud of the work they did. It is an exciting group. With the blows we received today and we keep taking, with the draws, this makes you emotional. I want to tell people to enjoy - it's a historic moment for our country."

Scaloni, who last year guided Argentina to Copa America glory to end the country’s 28-year wait for a major trophy, added: "This is what happened today: [France] reacted and that's huge credit to them. Above all, it is an incredible enjoyment to be at the top, as we are. It's something unique."

In capturing a third World Cup, Scaloni's side add to the previous victories for the country in 1978 and 1986. The national team have also lost three finals, most recently in 2014.

Messi, whose six goals in Qatar were second only to Kylian Mbappe (eight), was named the player of the tournament, while Martinez was awarded the prize for best goalkeeper.

"It was a game where we suffered," Martinez said. "Two crappy shots and [France] levelled. They give them another penalty, they scored. Thank God later I did my thing, what I dreamed of.

"There could not have been a World Cup that I have dreamed of like this. I was calm during the penalties.”

Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul added: "I'll never forget it. We had to suffer, but we deserved to win. We've beaten the last champions - it's a joy I cannot put into words.

"I'm proud of being born in Argentina and today we are on top of the world."