(Daily Mail) Lionel Messi sent the Lusail stadium into raptures as he finally realised his dream of winning a World Cup, guiding Argentina to glory through a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against France in Qatar in one of the greatest ever finals.
Argentinian fans the world over erupted in wild celebrations as their team prevailed, scoring every spot kick while France squandered two of their efforts amid the mind games of Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Earlier Messi had scored a desperate goal in extra time to drag his team back in front of defending champions France – only for Kylian Mbappe to seal a hat-trick and set up a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
The south American fans, who vastly outnumbered their French counterparts in Qatar, were powerless to contain their joy when the final penalty was scored, while the Argentinian players immediately burst into floods of tears as they mobbed their captain Messi.
The man himself bids farewell to the tournament with the trophy in his hands, having all but sealed his status as the greatest footballer of all time in likely his last ever game for Argentina.
Messi walked calmly over to the seats where his wife Antonella was seated with their son and blew kisses as the massive throng of Argentine fans went wild.
Mbappe meanwhile walks away from Qatar with the honour of becoming only the second man in history to score a hat trick in a World Cup Final after England’s Sir Geoff Hurst.
Sir Geoff was one of the first to congratulate Mbappe, tweeting: ‘Many congratulations to Mbappe. Whatever happens, I’ve had a great run!’
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates their side’s win after Argentina win the penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022
Argentina fans rejoice in front of their captain who guided the team to World Cup glory through a breathless final in Qatar
Argentina’s players erupt with joy and elation as they become champions of the world
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates at full time after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Argentina fans celebrate in Buenos Aires as their team become World Cup champions
Argentina’s fans celebrate the victory of the Argentine national team against France for the World Cup final, in Qatar, on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans in Madrid watch Argentina v France – Madrid, Spain – December 18, 2022
Argentina fans celebrate in a bar in Barcelona, Spain during the World Cup final
France supporters are seen in tears as their team lose in the World Cup final to new champions Argentina
Kylian Mbappe and France players show dejection after the team’s defeat
Kylian Mbappe of France looks dejected after a penalty shoot out loss during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium
French fans react as their side lose on penalties to Argentina in the World Cup final
Fans reacts during the final football match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup between Argentina and France on a screen in Paris on December 18, 2022.
A video screen shows the score at the end of extra time during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
A fan of Argentina reacts while watching the live broadcast of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France in Buenos Aires, on December 18, 2022.
Thousands of Argentina fans went wild after their team went into half-time with a 2-0 lead against France in the World Cup final in Doha tonight, only for France’s wonderboy Kylian Mbappe to score two goals in quick succession to haul the defending champions back level.
Lionel Messi put Argentina in front against France with a calmly taken penalty in the 23rd minute to spark jubilant scenes among the vociferous Argentine supporters, who outnumber the French fans by about 90 per cent in the Lusail Stadium.
Argentina fans were then sent into dreamland after Angel Di Maria, who was fouled for the penalty, capped off a sublime team move by slotting the ball past Hugo Lloris following a rapid counter attack in the 36th minute.
It looked as though Messi’s men were set to cruise to glory, but Mbappe slotted home a penalty in the 80th minute to pull a goal back and become the joint top scorer with Messi at six tournament goals each.
A minute later, the 23-year-old equalised, dragging a lacklustre French side back into contention and scoring his 7th goal of the tournament to put him in line for the Golden Boot.
The second half of extra time brought yet more drama as Messi managed to scramble the ball over the line. For a moment it looked as though the goal was going to be disallowed but a quick check ensured the ball had fully crossed the line.
Argentina fans exploded in yet another wave of joyous celebrations, only for their team to give away a crucial penalty just minutes from time.
Mbappe stepped up and buried the spot kick, becoming only the second player after Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat trick in World Cup Final and setting up an unbearably tense penalty shootout.
