reuters
Argentina won their third World Cup in an extraordinary final on Sunday as they beat France 4-2 on penalties, with Lionel Messi scoring twice in a 3-3 draw and Kylian Mbappe grabbing a hat-trick to send the holders 2-1. Backed by -0 and 3. -2 down.
It was an incredible night of drama, high emotion and fluctuating fortunes that delivered one of the all-time great finals to end an amazing tournament, as two of its star players put on a commanding performance on the biggest stage of all.
Argentina looked to be heading for a one-sided victory after Messi’s penalty and a brilliant first-half goal from Angel Di Maria, but Embappé converted the penalty in the 80th minute and equalized a minute later. Take the game to overtime.
Messi put Argentina ahead again but Mbappe equalized with another penalty, becoming the second man since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a World Cup final hat-trick.
In the shootout, Argentina’s keeper Emiliano Martínez saved an effort from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Toumeni scored. This gave full support to Gonzalo Montiel, who gave away a penalty for France’s third goal, a final redemption opportunity, which he calmly took by sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way.
It meant that after his record 26th World Cup match, at the fifth and final time of asking, the 35-year-old Messi claimed the trophy, his talent and commitment to his country earning him a place alongside Argentina’s first football god, Diego Maradona. which led him to his emotional second victory in 1986, following his first in 1978.
Messi, who has played 172 times for his country, said, “I wanted to end my career with it, it was what was missing so I can’t ask for anything more.”
“I was able to get the Copa America and now the World Cup, which I fought so hard for. I got it at the end of my career. But I love football and I want to continue playing a few more games. Champion ”
The win looks even more incredible after his team suffered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history a month after the tournament began, when they lost to Saudi Arabia.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said, “I can’t believe we suffered so much in a great game. Incredible, but this team responds to everything.”
“I’m proud of the work they’ve done. I want to tell people to enjoy the blowback we got today, it’s a historic moment for our country.”
