Lionel Messi has promised to continue his international career after he led Argentina, finally, to World Cup glory.
The national team captain, 35, realised a long-held ambition on Sunday night at the Lusail Stadium north of Doha, scoring twice as Argentina eventually saw off reigning champions France on penalties.
The match, surely to go down as one of the greatest finals in history, had finished 2-2 in normal time – Argentina were 2-0 up until the 80th minute – and then 3-3 in extra-time.
Messi’s 108th-minute goal appeared to have sealed it, before Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick on the night to force the shoot-out. Argentina went on to win 4-2 on penalties.
Messi, who had after the semi-final triumph against Croatia said this would be his final World Cup, told Argentine TV following the win on Sunday: "I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion. Obviously I would like to end my career with this - I cannot ask for more.
"My career is nearly over because these are my last years."
Messi, who has won almost every other major trophy – last year, he captained Argentina to the Copa America crown – seemed destined to miss out on the game’s greatest prize.
He lost the final to Germany in 2014, despite being named player of that tournament.
Argentina v France ratings
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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
On Sunday, after collecting another award for best player, he said: "It's crazy that it happened at the time it happened, but it's amazing.
"It's amazing that it could end this way. I said previously that God was going to grant me this and, I don't know why, but I felt it was going to be this time."
On the match, which forged a similar path to Argentina’s quarter-final victory against the Netherlands, also on penalties, Messi said: "It was a very strange match, the same as the other one against the Netherlands, and then when we went ahead in extra-time, it happened again.”
Meanwhile, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni would not entirely rule out Messi representing his country at another World Cup. Messi will be 38 by the time the tournament kicks off in the US, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026; he will turn 39 during it.
“First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup 2026," Scaloni said. "If he wants to keep playing, he’ll be with us. I think that he’s more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.
“It’s such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything that he meets with his teammates is something unparalleled, something I’ve never seen before. A player, a person who gives so much to his teammates.”
