Magical Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup trophy with Argentina on Sunday as they beat defending champions, France 4-2 on penalties to lift the coveted trophy.
The match had ended 3-3 after extra-time, necessitating penalty shootout to decide the winner of the encounter.
Messi had won every trophy needed to be won on earth except a senior World Cup. He did it in style on Sunday, scoring two of the goals and converted his penalty during the shootout.
The Argentine superstar opened scoring on 23rd minute from the penalty spot. Messi won the battle of wills and sent an unstoppable penalty past Hugo Lloris into the bottom right corner.
Argentina made it 2-0 on 36th minute. Alexis Mac Allister found himself with the ball at his feet in space after a lightning counter attack. He looked and up slide the ball to Angel Di Maria, who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper from close in.
Argentina were thinking they have won the trophy as they dominated play until France made a great comeback.
Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot on 80th minute to pile pressure on Argentina.
Emiliano Martinez got a hand on the penalty from Mbappe, but he could not stop it from flying into the bottom left corner. Messi celebrates with team mates
A minute later, Mbappe scored a brilliant goal for his brace and his seventh goal of the tournament. He showed good awareness inside the box as he latched on to a brilliant pass and fired a first-time shot into the back of the net, with Marcus Thuram assisting in the goal.
Messi got his brace for Argentina on extra-time. A rebound wrong footed everyone except Messi and he slammed the ball into the open net from close range.
Mbappe scored his hat-trick two minutes to the end of extra-time from the penalty spot to make it 3-3 for France.
