Lionel Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory on a night of high drama as his team overcame defending champions France on penalties after a thrilling game ended 3-3 at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Argentina roared out of the blocks early to take a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to a penalty from Messi and a strike from Angel Di Maria.
But two late goals from French forward Kylian Mbappe sent the game to extra time, where both Messi and Mbappe scored again.
And in the ensuing penalty shootout, it was Gonzalo Montiel who fired home the winning spot kick to secure Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986 and their third in total.
It was agony for Didier Deschamps’ French team, who had been bidding to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain their title.
Early on at the Lusail Stadium, it didn’t appear that penalties would even be a remotely realistic possibility.
Hit by a virus in the build-up to the game, the French team were unusually lackluster in the…
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