Lionel Messi etched his name in the history books as he led Argentina to World Cup glory on Sunday, scoring twice against France in one of the all-time great finals that was decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Messi finally clinched football's biggest prize with a performance worthy of the occasion, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
France had fought back from 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes as Kylian Mbappe scored twice inside two minutes to level the scores and force extra time in a match watched by an 89,000 crowd in Lusail Stadium.
Messi seemed to have decided the match in extra time with his second goal of the game before his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick to make it 3-3 and force penalties.
Thereafter, Argentina aced the shoot-out while France missed the mark as Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick to win the shoot-out 4-2 for Argentina.
As expected, it was celebration time in Argentina and across the world as millions of fans of the South American team poured out on to the streets to celebrate the triumph.
An estimated two million people converged around the iconic Obelisk in central Buenos Aires as the party raged long into the night on the shores of the River Plate.
President Alberto Fernandez joined in on the celebrations and thanked the national team for the victory.
“Thank you to the players and the technical team. They’re an example that we must never give up. That we have great people and a great future,” Fernandez wrote on social media.
Brazil’s president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wrote on social media that he was “happy with the victory of our Argentine neighbours.”
Celebrities at World Cup 2022 final
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Spain great Iker Casillas and Bollywood star Deepika Padukone present the Fifa World Cup trophy prior to the final between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Getty -
Iker Casillas and Deepika Padukone present the Fifa World Cup trophy at the Lusail Stadium. Getty -
Fans take photos with Twitter boss Elon Musk during the World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Getty -
Elon Musk attends the World Cup final between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium. Getty -
Elon Musk during the World Cup final in Qatar. Getty -
French President Emmanuel Macron with Kylian Mbappe after the World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. EPA -
French President Emmanuel Macron comforts Kylian Mbappe after the penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina. EPA -
French President Emmanuel Macron during the final on Sunday. AFP -
Elon Musk and Jared Kushner at the Lusail Stadium. Reuters -
Jared Kushner with Elon Musk during the World Cup final. Getty -
Formula One driver Pierre Gasly and tennis great Novak Djokovic during the World Cup final in Qatar. Reuters -
From left: Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, French player Paul Pogba, French President Emmanuel Macron, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the Lusail Stadium. EPA -
Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Lusail Stadium. AFP
