Argentina v France World Cup final player ratings: Messi 10, Romero 9; Mbappe 10, Giroud 5

Thrilling final ends in a shoot-out as Messi finally lifts the coveted trophy

ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 9 - Aston Villa’s goalkeeper had little to do in the first half as France didn’t have a single attempt on his goal, and took until 70th minute to have a shot off target. Then conceded three goals to Mbappe. Massive save in penultimate minute, then saved again in France’s penalty shoot out. Booked during it, but his mind games worked. Won the Golden Glove. Getty

Nicolas Tagliafico 8 - Diminutive left back is now a world champion. Getty

Nicolas Otamendi 7 - Another who played like a man possessed and like his life depended on it, but there’s a mistake in him. He gave France’s first penalty away, letting them into the game. Also deflected an Mbappe shot over on 93 as Argentina wobbled.

Cristian Romero 9 - Early collision with Lloris and another when he was booked on 18. Made it tough for Giroud by getting straight on to him. Read the game well, intercepting and setting up attacks. Kneed a 93rd minute ball back to his goalkeeper amid another French attack.

Nahuel Molina 7 - The second goal started when the Atletico Madrid full-back won the ball and played it forward to Mac Allister. Charged, emotional, intense. Like them all. AP

Alexis Mac Allister 9 - Fourth minute strike on goal. Ball to Di Maria as Argentina enjoyed a better, more aggressive start to the match. Incredible run and ball to set up the second. Box to box throughout, he was one of the best players in the World Cup final. AFP

Enzo Fernandez 7 - Helped Argentina dominate from the middle. Curled a shot on target after 71 – having been set up by his foil Mac Allister. Booked. Won young player of the tournament. AFP

Rodrigo De Paul 8 - Excellent in the first half as he moved the ball quickly. Protected Molina. Volley against Lloris as Argentina dominated, until the 80th minute. AFP

Julian Alvarez 8 - Offside after two minutes as Argentina showed their early intent. Worked hard – in defence and attack - and combined well with Messi. No goals or assists, but a top class supportive role. AFP

Messi 10 - In his last World Cup, he held his nerve to put Argentina ahead with a 22nd minute penalty. Flick helped with the second. Worked hard. Lost ball to Coman, which led to France’s second. Scored the third – and he thought winning – goal. Put his penalty away. What an ending. AFP

Angel Di Maria 9 - Tremendous on the left. The 34-year-old skied a shot after 16 following smart link up with Messi. Clever to win a penalty after running into the box on 21 and being pushed by Dembele. Scored in Copa America final and here made it 2-0, finishing an incredible move with a decisive finish. AP

SUBS: Marcos Acuna 7 - On for Di Maria after 64. Booked. Ran down the left and found space, before slicing a cross into the stands – which were full to their 88,966 capacity. Reuters

Gonzalo Montiel 9 - On for Molina on 97. Sent a screaming shot towards goal on 105, only for Varane to head it away. Gave away the penalty at the end of extra time. Took the penalty which made Argentina world champions. Took his shirt off. Cried his eyes out. Getty

Leandro Paredes 6 - On for De Paul on 102. Booked for a horrendous tackle seven minutes from the very end. PA

Lautaro Martinez 9 - On for Alvarez on 103 and made an immediate impact. Two efforts in time added on as Argentina desperately tried to get their lead back. Stayed onside for the third, curling a shot which was parried towards Messi who equalised. Excellent. Reuters

German Pezzella N/A - Real Betis player came on for Mac Allister on 115. Getty

Paulo Dybala N/A - On for Tagliafico in time to take a penalty. He did – and rolled it down the middle. Reuters

FRANCE RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 4 - Little he could have done about the goals amid a poor defensive performance. Failed to make a single save from the penalty spot. AFP

Theo Hernandez 5 - Looked bright going forward, but was unconvincing defensively again, and was nowhere to be seen in the build up to Argentina’s second goal which came from his flank. EPA

Dayot Upamecano 7 - Two significant interventions in extra time. An impressive performance from the Bayern Munich star. AP

Raphael Varane 6 - Didn’t over commit to challenges and restored calm despite being 2-0 down. Kept things simple with his passing when transitioning the ball out of defence. Out on his feet by the time he was replaced by Konate in extra time. AP

Jules Kounde 4 - Targeted by Argentina on a number of occasions who enjoyed consistent success with balls played into his channel. Struggled to deal with Di Maria who linked play effortlessly from the left. AFP

Aurelien Tchouameni 5 - Sometimes careless with his passing, but Tchouameni seemed to grow into the game once France added balance into their midfield. Put his penalty wide of the spot in the shootout. PA

Adrien Rabiot 6 - A crucial tackle on the hour-mark ensured Messi didn’t have a chance to make it 3-0. Worked hard throughout the game. EPA

Antoine Griezmann 6 - Came in and out of the game in spells and applied pressure when tracking back to defend, but Griezmann wasn’t as effective going forward as usual. France looked better when he was withdrawn. AP

Ousmane Dembele 3 - Gave away the penalty for Messi’s opener despite there being some question over whether it was a foul. Seemed to give away possession every time he touched it, and was replaced in the first-half. EPA

Kylian Mbappe 10 - Just the second hat-trick in World Cup final history - and he ended up on the losing side. When he came alive - eventually - he was unstoppable and terrified Argentina. What a game. PA

Olivier Giroud 5 - Frustrated and replaced at the same time as Ousmane Dembele, before half-time, as Deschamps changed his deck to make something happen. AFP

SUBS: Randal Kolo Muani (Giroud, 41) 7 - Added more intensity on the forward line. France’s first genuine attempt on goal didn’t come until the 68th minute, but Kolo Muani got the effort from a corner all wrong. AP

Marcus Thuram (Dembele, 41) 7 - Looked bright and played with freedom to attack Argentina defenders. Booked for simulation, though it’s difficult to be too critical with a World Cup on the line. AP

Eduardo Camavinga (Griezmann 71) 7 - France looked much better when the Real Madrid midfielder was introduced, with Camavinga providing much needed physicality to help begin counter-attacks in more promising areas. AP

Kingsley Coman (Hernandez 71) 7 - Added an injection of pace at the right time as he soon dispossessed Lionel Messi in the build up to France’s equalising goal. An excellently timed substitution by Didier Deschamps. Missed his penalty in the shootout. Reuters

Youssouf Fofana (Rabiot 96) 6 - Introduced for Adrien Rabiot who had worked tirelessly all game. AP

Ibrahima Konate (Varane, 113) N/A - Won the corner in the lead up to France’s penalty for the equaliser. Almost picked up an assist to win it. AFP

Axel Disasi (Kounde, 120) N/A - On for the penalty shootout. AFP

Dec 19, 2022

Lionel Messi won the World Cup for Argentina on Sunday as he scored twice against France in one of the all-time great finals before the South Americans held their nerve to win in a penalty shoot-out in Qatar.

Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career by winning football's biggest prize with a performance that will go down in World Cup history, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.

France had fought back from 2-0 down as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to equalise and force extra time in a pulsating match.

World Cup: Argentina crowned champions after shoot-out drama against France

Messi seemed to have decided the match in extra time with his second goal of the game before Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick to bring the score to 3-3 and force penalties.

Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive penalty to win the shoot-out 4-2 for Argentina - but this was Messi's moment.

Tens of thousands of blue and white-shirted Argentina fans rose to salute Messi as he told them "we're champions of the world!" on the stadium microphone.

Player ratings from the World Cup final can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, just swipe.

Updated: December 19, 2022, 3:42 AM